Despite where I live now and grew up, I was actually born in Pennsylvania. There you see a lot of snakes that have the pattern of a diamond on their back. Not all of them are rattlesnakes though, so are there diamondback rattlesnakes in Pennsylvania?
Here’s what I learned:
Pennsylvania has timber rattlesnakes, east diamondback rattlesnakes, and west diamondback rattlesnakes. The east and west diamondback rattlesnakes are the only two snakes in Pennsylvania that have a diamondback. These snakes are found in almost every county of the state.
In Pennsylvania, there are venomous snakes, non-venomous snakes, diamondback snakes, yellow snakes, black snakes, green snakes, you name it.
The majority of the snakes in Pennsylvania are harmless, but it is good to be aware of the different types you may encounter.
What Kinds of Snakes are in Pennsylvania?
Many different types of snakes live in Pennsylvania and they come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. To name some, there are:
- Northern Copperhead
- Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake
- Timber Rattlesnake
- Eastern Garter Snake
- Eastern Milk Snake
- Eastern Hognose Snake
- Eastern Rat Snake
- Eastern Worm Snake
- Northern Black Racer
So, Pennsylvania has many types of snakes.
This can range from timber rattlesnakes to little garden snakes. The climate and weather are good for the forest and garter snakes. The humid and warm climate helps with having a small population of venomous snakes.
There are not many venomous snakes that survive in wet, humid, warm, or extremely cold weather. Knowing this, you can come across a snake in Pennsylvania and have it a better chance of it being non-venomous rather than venomous.
But if you’re unsure, it’s safer to leave it alone.
Most of these snakes like to lay low and live on moist ground. The small snakes, like the eastern worm snake, like to live around neighborhoods and in gardens are often very small, averaging around 2-9 inches long. In Pennsylvania, the winter gets extremely cold and temperatures can drop to around 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Depending on the location, snakes can have a hard time surviving through the winter.
This can explain why there are some low populations of snakes, and why the snakes do not grow more than a foot long. Snakes are cold-blooded, so they will slow down and have a hard time when they live in the cold. If it gets too cold, or if their prey dies out, then it can become difficult for snakes to survive.
Snakes need to hunt for small prey in order to live, and it can be hard to hunt for their favorite foods in the winter. A lot of their preferred prey animals will hibernate for the winter, making it difficult for snakes to find food.
Other snakes tend to grow around 10-30 inches in length, but some snakes average 40-100 inches in length. These size lengths are averages of adult snakes of the snakes listed. For instance, the northern black racer averages between 36-60 inches long as an adult. The eastern rat snake can be between 40-100 inches in its length as an adult. Another example is the eastern massasauga rattlesnake that can average around 18-40 inches long.
You’ll be able to find snakes of every size in Pennsylvania.
What Non-venomous Snakes are in Pennsylvania?
Most of the snakes in Pennsylvania are non-venomous. The list above is most of the snakes that are common to see, with the majority of the snakes being non-venomous.
Excluding the venomous snakes (and adding a few more non-venomous snakes), here is a list of the types of snakes you can see in Pennsylvania:
- Eastern garter snake
- Eastern Milk Snake
- Eastern Hognose Snake
- Eastern Rat Snake
- Eastern Worm Snake
- Northern Black Racer
- Northern Brown Snake
- Northern Red Belly
- Shorthead Garter Snake
- Northern Ring-Necked Snake
- Northern Water Snake
- Northern Rough Green Snake
- Smooth Green Snake
- Queensnake
- Kirtland’s Snake
There are plenty more snakes in Pennsylvania, but this is a list composed of common snakes and endangered snakes. Some of these have small populations, and some only live in certain parts of the state. Some snakes like the mountains, some like to be by bodies of water, some like to be by good grass and homes, so populations of types of snakes can vary depending on location.
Just because a snake isn’t venomous doesn’t mean it’s totally safe though. Snakes can still give you a good bite, so be careful and make sure to give them space.
What Venomous Snakes are in Pennsylvania?
There are a few types of venomous snakes in Pennsylvania. These include the northern copperhead, eastern massasauga, timber rattlesnake, eastern diamondback rattlesnake, and western diamondback rattlesnake.
The northern copper head is the most common venomous snake in Pennsylvania.
Eastern massasauga is endangered and has a small population in Pennsylvania. They are also very small, averaging around 2 feet in length. The timber rattlesnake is the most common venomous rattlesnake in Pennsylvania. This snake can be yellow or black and often has a diamond-like pattern on it. The most commonly seen is the yellow timber rattlesnake.
All rattlesnake species are venomous, so if you hear that telltale rattle, avoid it!
What are the Most Common Snakes in Pennsylvania?
The most common snakes in Pennsylvania are the ones that live in the forest, slopes, backyards, and more. Some of these include:
- Eastern Garter Snake
- Timber Rattlesnake
- Eastern Milk Snake
- Northern Water Snake
- Northern Black Racer
- Eastern Rat Snake
- Northern Brown Snake
- Northern Red-bellied Snake
These snakes are very abundant in Pennsylvania. They are the most common species that are encountered by people. When living in Pennsylvania, you can spot these anywhere you go. You could find one by going on a hike, working in your own backyard garden, walking on the side of the road, and many more places.
But, like all snakes, these Pennsylvania residents like to hide under rocks and other shaded places.
Therefore encountering one of these snakes is not going to be an everyday occurrence. If you are a resident of Pennsylvania and not a visitor, then you will probably see multiple snakes a year depending on where you live.
On a positive note, most of the snakes you can encounter in Pennsylvania are very harmless. The ones to look out for are the northern water snake and the timber rattlesnake. If you do not know what snake you are looking at, then a good rule of thumb is to simply leave it alone and not aggravate it. Making a snake mad is never a good idea because whether it is venomous or not, snake bites are not fun.