Venomous snakes in Virginia
Venomous snakes living in Virginia
3species, plus 1 with rare records
Cottonmouth, Timber rattlesnake, Copperhead. A bite from any of these is a medical emergency.
How to recognize them
CottonmouthDangerous476 records, 12 counties
Timber rattlesnakeDangerous284 records, 37 counties
CopperheadMedically significant732 records, 89 counties
Cottonmouth Agkistrodon piscivorus
- Heavy, dark olive to black body; bands fade with age
- Broad flat head with a dark stripe through the eye
- Swims with the whole body high on the water
Timber rattlesnake Crotalus horridus
- Dark V- or chevron-shaped bands across the back
- Black tail ending in a rattle
- Yellow, tan or dark phases; some are almost black
Copperhead Agkistrodon contortrix
- Copper to tan body with dark hourglass bands: wide on the sides, narrow on the spine
- Plain coppery head with no pattern
- Young snakes have a bright yellow-green tail tip
Every venomous snake species known from the US is on this site.
Counties with records
- None recorded
- 1 species
- 2
- 3 to 4
- 5 or more
Active months
Rare records
- Rare records Pygmy rattlesnake 1 open record
Harmless snakes people mistake for them
- Cottonmouth vs Water Snake Water snake: harmless
- Copperhead vs Northern Water Snake Northern water snake: harmless
- Copperhead vs Corn Snake Corn snake: harmless
- Copperhead vs Rat Snake Rat snake: harmless
- Copperhead vs Milk Snake Milk snake: harmless
- Cottonmouth vs Brown Water Snake Brown water snake: harmless
- Copperhead vs Hognose Snake Eastern hognose snake: harmless
Water snakeHarmlessHarmless
Northern water snakeHarmlessHarmless
Brown water snakeHarmlessHarmless
Eastern hognose snakeHarmlessHarmless
Corn snakeHarmlessHarmless
Rat snakeHarmlessHarmless
Milk snakeHarmlessHarmless
Scarlet snakeHarmlessHarmless
Quick answers
- Lives here Are there rattlesnakes in Virginia?
- Lives here Are there copperheads in Virginia?
- Lives here Are there cottonmouths in Virginia?
- Not here Are there coral snakes in Virginia?
Questions
How many venomous snakes are in Virginia?
3 species live in the state: Cottonmouth, Timber rattlesnake and Copperhead.
Which venomous snakes in Virginia are dangerous?
Cottonmouth, Timber rattlesnake and Copperhead: a bite is a medical emergency.
When are venomous snakes most active in Virginia?
Most open records fall in July to September.
Which harmless snakes get mistaken for venomous ones in Virginia?
Water snake, Northern water snake, Corn snake and Rat snake. See the side-by-side comparisons below.
More for Virginia
- All venomous animals in Virginia
- Venomous spiders in Virginia
- Scorpions in Virginia
- Centipedes in Virginia