Venomous Snakes of Georgia
Over the break, I was talking with one of my old hiking buddies who was actually bitten by a Cottonmouth when he was younger. He’s Ok now, of course, but I hope the following info. will help somebody avoid this kind of horrible encounter and also help us not to fear all snakes as they play their part in our local ecosystems.
Of Georgia’s 40 or so native species of snakes, only six are venomous and dangerous to humans. Most snakes we come across outdoors are not harmful at all, so please don’t harm them! If you encounter a dangerous snake, or you’re unsure what kind it is… leave it alone, and back away slowly.
- Copperhead
(Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix)
Copperheads, the most common of Georgia’s venomous species, are between two and three feet long when fully grown, and come in two races: Southern and Northern. The Northern race (left picture) is a pale brown or gray, and the Southern race (right picture) appears a dull orange. Both have broken hourglass bands stretching their body’s length. Copperheads are usually lethargic hunters, preferring to lie and wait for passing rodents. They prefer rocky outcroppings common to the mountains, but can be found all across Georgia, save the most extreme Southern portions of the state. Copperheads lie dormant, hibernating all winter, are most active in the Spring and Fall, and become primarily nocturnal during the hot Summer months.
- Canebrake or Timber Rattlesnake
(Crotalus horridus atricaudatus)
Timber rattlesnakes, sometimes called Canebrakes, are between three and a half and four feet long when fully grown. They boast a thick triangular head, and come in two “phases,” the pale phase and canebrake phase. The canebrake phase (left picture) has dark V-shaped bands with a dark stripe behind the eye. The pale phase (right picture) is a yellow brown with dark brown blotches and a black tail. They are commonly found in cane and bamboo thickets, rocky outcroppings, and lowland forests.
- Cottonmouth a.k.a Water Moccasin
(Agkistrodon pisvivorus conanti)
Four feet long when fully grown, the Water Moccasin can be found around nearly any fresh water habitat including streams, rivers, ponds, marshes, and lakes, especially when bordered by lowland pine forests. Their bodies are a dark brown, with with dark yellow-brown bands. Cottonmouths can be distinguished from other water snakes by the deep between the nostrils and eyes, and a dark stripe on the side of the head, buffered by yellow on top and bottom. Unlike most other snakes, cottonmouths swim with their heads far out of the water. They can also be recognized by their tell-tale white mouth (inside), but I hope most readers don’t ever get close enough to realize what I’m talking about. - Pigmy Rattlesnake
(Sisturus miliarius)
The pigmy rattlesnake is about two feet long when fully grown, with a broad triangular head with interlocking rattlers at the end of a thin tail. Two races inhabit the Georgia, and both races are pictured below:
Dusky Pigmy Rattlesnake Carolina Pigmy Rattlesnake Pigmies are one of the more aggressive species, however their short fangs sometimes fail to puncture clothing and boots. They’re common to pine flatwoods, prairies, marshes, and water sheds.
- Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake
(Crotalus adamanteus)
Georgia’s largest rattlesnake, the Eastern Diamondback can grow up to five feet long. Eastern’s have a broad triangular head, and smoky gray body with dark brown daimonds surrounded by pale yellow. Rattler is horny, and interlocked. Easily distinguished by their light and dark diagnal lines across the face. E. Diamondbacks are very unpredictable, and should be given a wide berth. If you find one, freeze and let the snake move on. Habitats include hardwood and pine forests, palmetto stands, and fields along the coastal plain and peidmont. - Eastern Coral Snake
(Micrurus fulvius fulvius)
Coral snakes are one and a half to two feet long when fully grown, and closely resemble two of Georgia’s non-venomous species, the milk snake and scarlet snake. Coral snakes are slender shiny creatures with yellow, black, and red bands. Their snouts are black, but their non-venomous relatives are red. Coral snakes are found mostly in Southern Georgia, near marshy wooded areas and streams. They are usually very shy, and solitary, but are highly venomous and should be avoided at all times. To distinguish a Coral snake from it’s harmless relatives, remember these three things:- Red and yellow bands touch = dangerous
- Coral snakes have black noses
- ” If red touches yellow, it can kill a fellow. If red touches black, it is a friend of Jack.”
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kristine shreve on 26 Nov 2007 at 6:48 pm #
I do not like snakes. I have never liked snakes and never will like them I imagine.
Luckily we only have one poisonous kind, that I know of, in Michigan and it is shy and not seen much. I don’t know what I would do if I encountered the snakes pictured in your post. I expect it would involve screaming and running.
eagleeyes on 28 Nov 2007 at 1:35 am #
Hello, me neither. Thanks for the very informative article on snakes in your area. I did a blog post this summer on rattlesnakes over on Idaho Fishin’ Times. It is actually against the law now in Idaho to kill a rattlesnake. What is an outdoors person to do. Sneak away from snakes, I tell you.
Jason on 19 Mar 2008 at 10:42 am #
For information on Georgia’s snakes visit SnakesAreUs.com which is based in Georgia.
Albert Greene on 03 Apr 2008 at 11:27 am #
Your photo of a “coral snake” is actually a harmless scarlet king snake. Check out your own description of the banding pattern.
jamiejamie on 09 May 2008 at 2:52 pm #
i saw black and yellow corral snake in fayetteville,ga. is this dangerous or not/or venomous
admin on 09 May 2008 at 5:18 pm #
Jamie, not sure. I think most corals in GA have some yellow too in the red touches yellow pattern. If not sure, don’t pick it up - that’s my rule anyways.
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Joe on 29 Jun 2008 at 9:20 pm #
FAYETTE COUNTY, FAYETTEVILLE GEORGIA
This is the 3rd snake i have caught in approx. 3 weeks time. The first one was the 1st week of june, i was sitting out side enjoyinh the calm night. I felt something crawling up my foot and leg and i jumped up and shined the flashlight (the flashlight stays glued to me when i am outside at night because of the huge population of spiders that populate my yard) and the 3 ft. snake was black and had poorly shaped greyish rings going down his body. It curled up and snapping at me. How could i let this potentialy deadly snake get away?
I have a soon to be 4yr old and soon to be 2yr old that play in the yard, so i completely ignored the fact that you should not attempt to catch these snakes; i want it gone! So i grabbed some “picker-upers” and captured the snake to find out more about this one later. I put it in a plastic container with a heavey piece of glass i been saving for a rainey day, and sat back down. 10 minutes later i heard a plump behind me. I jumped up once again and shined the light. Another snake of the same kind! i thought for sure it just escaped my container. so i grabbed it again and took it to the container and found that it had not escaped, i have captured 2 of these snakes in 10 minutes time. Still have no idea what kind they were, i only know that they are the dead kind now.
Now today i was walking aroung my utility trailer and a glimpse of yellow movement caught my eye. I look instantly and discover this black 2 1/2 ft. snake with yellow stripes running the length of its body. I stepped closer to make sure i wasnt seeing a mirage or something. It jumped at me and snapped wide mouthed, extremely fast. That made me mad. I darted across the yard (most of my momentum camed from when i jumped back startled the thing charged at me) and snatched my handy “picker-upers” and headed back ready for my last breath-once again, fearing for my childrens safety. It wiggled heavely and burst a disgusting amount of some form of liquid. It has 3 stripes that are yellow along its back and a checkered belly.
Is there an agency that helps in the capture of the snakes for removal? I wander if i should invest in some more gear for what may be lurking next?
Jack Vann on 29 Jul 2008 at 1:55 pm #
Yesterday while working near a large patch of ivy, I saw the rear portion of a snake making its way into the ivy. The snake was black with yellow rings around its body. I saw probably a foot of the snake and that was all. The tail of the snake was pointed and not blunted like the photos I’ve seen of the coral snake. Can you tell me what kind of snake this was? Thanks