List of snakes of Georgia (U.S. state) facts for kids

Georgia is a state in the United States known for its warm climate and diverse wildlife. It's also a place where you can find many different kinds of snakes! In fact, a study from 2012 showed that Georgia has more snakes per square mile than almost any other state. This means there are lots of interesting snakes living all around, from tiny worm snakes to large rattlesnakes. Don't worry, most snakes are harmless and play an important role in nature.

Snakes in Georgia

Georgia is home to many different kinds of snakes. They live in various habitats like forests, swamps, and even backyards. Snakes are important animals because they help control pests like mice and insects. Knowing about the snakes in Georgia can help you understand and appreciate these amazing creatures.

Non-Venomous Snakes

Most snakes you might see in Georgia are not venomous. This means they do not have venom (a type of poison) that can harm humans. These snakes are usually shy and will try to get away if they see you.

• Worm Snake (Carphophis amoenus)

These small, shiny snakes look a bit like earthworms. They spend most of their lives underground, digging through loose soil. They mostly eat earthworms and soft-bodied insects.

• Scarlet Snake (Cemophora coccinea)

The scarlet snake has bright red, black, and yellow bands. It looks a bit like the venomous coral snake, but its colors are arranged differently. These snakes are often found in sandy areas and eat snake eggs and small lizards.

• Black Racer (Coluber constrictor)

Black racers are fast, slender snakes that are usually solid black. They are very active during the day and hunt for rodents, birds, and insects. They are not venomous and will quickly flee if approached.

• Ringneck Snake (Diadophis punctatus)

These small, dark snakes have a distinctive yellow or orange ring around their neck. They are often found under rocks, logs, or leaf litter. Ringneck snakes eat small salamanders, worms, and slugs.

• Indigo Snake (Drymarchon corais)

The indigo snake is one of the longest snakes in North America, growing up to 8 feet! It has a beautiful shiny blue-black color. These snakes are protected and eat almost anything, including other snakes, rodents, and birds.

• Corn Snake (Pantherophis guttatus)

Corn snakes are known for their beautiful orange and red patterns. They are often found in barns and fields, where they hunt mice and rats. They are popular as pets because they are gentle and easy to care for.

• Rat Snake (Pantherophis obsoletus)

Rat snakes are excellent climbers and are often seen in trees or on buildings. They can be black, yellow, or gray, depending on their age and location. They are very good at catching rats and mice.

• Mud Snake (Farancia abacura)

Mud snakes are dark, shiny snakes with bright red or pink bellies. They live in swamps and muddy areas, where they hunt for salamanders and eels. They are mostly active at night.

• Rainbow Snake (Farancia erytrogramma)

This snake is named for its beautiful iridescent scales that shimmer with rainbow colors in the light. It has red and black stripes. Rainbow snakes live in aquatic habitats and eat eels.

• Eastern Hognose Snake (Heterodon platirhinos)

Hognose snakes have an upturned snout, which they use to dig in the soil. When threatened, they might flatten their heads, hiss loudly, or even play dead! They mostly eat toads.

• Southern Hognose Snake (Heterodon simus)

Similar to the Eastern Hognose, this snake also has an upturned snout. It's smaller and less common. It also plays dead when scared and eats mostly toads.

• Mole Kingsnake (Lampropeltis calligaster)

Mole kingsnakes are medium-sized snakes with blotchy patterns. They spend a lot of time underground, hunting for rodents and other small animals.

• Eastern Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula)

These snakes are famous for eating other snakes, including venomous ones! They are immune to the venom of rattlesnakes and copperheads. They have shiny black scales with white or yellow bands.

• Milk Snake (Lampropeltis triangulum)

Milk snakes have colorful patterns of red, black, and cream bands. They are often mistaken for coral snakes, but their color pattern is different. They eat rodents, birds, and other snakes.

• Scarlet Kingsnake (Lampropeltis triangulum elapsoides)

This snake looks very much like the venomous coral snake, but it is harmless. It has red, black, and yellow bands. A common rhyme to tell them apart is "Red touches black, venom lack; Red touches yellow, kill a fellow."

• Coachwhip (Masticophis flagellum)

Coachwhips are long, slender snakes that can be very fast. They get their name from their braided appearance, like a whip. They hunt for lizards, birds, and rodents.

• Redbelly Water Snake (Nerodia erythrogaster)

These water snakes are often found near ponds, lakes, and rivers. They have a plain reddish or orange belly. They eat fish and amphibians.

• Banded Water Snake (Nerodia fasciata)

Banded water snakes have dark bands or blotches on a lighter background. They are often mistaken for cottonmouths but are not venomous. They are excellent swimmers and eat fish.

• Green Water Snake (Nerodia floridana)

These are large, heavy-bodied water snakes that are usually olive green or brown. They live in slow-moving water and eat fish and frogs.

• Northern Water Snake (Nerodia sipedon)

Northern water snakes are common near water bodies. They have dark blotches or bands. They are not venomous but can bite if they feel threatened. They eat fish and amphibians.

• Brown Water Snake (Nerodia taxispilota)

Brown water snakes are thick-bodied snakes with square-shaped dark blotches on their backs. They are often seen basking on branches over water. They are skilled fish hunters.

• Rough Green Snake (Opheodrys aestivus)

These slender, bright green snakes blend in perfectly with leaves and branches. They are often found in shrubs and trees, where they hunt for insects like crickets and grasshoppers.

• Pine Snake (Pituophis melanoleucus)

Pine snakes are large, powerful snakes with blotchy patterns. They are known for their loud hiss and for vibrating their tails when threatened. They eat rodents, birds, and eggs.

• Striped Crayfish Snake (Liodytes alleni)

These snakes are found in aquatic habitats and have dark stripes down their backs. They specialize in eating crayfish.

• Glossy Crayfish Snake (Regina rigida)

Similar to the striped crayfish snake, this snake also eats crayfish. It has a smooth, glossy appearance and lives near water.

• Queen Snake (Regina septemvittata)

Queen snakes are slender, brown snakes with yellow stripes on their sides. They live near clear, rocky streams and almost exclusively eat newly molted crayfish.

• Pine Woods Snake (Rhadinaea flavilata)

These small, secretive snakes are found in pine forests. They are light brown with a faint stripe. They eat small lizards and frogs.

• Black Swamp Snake (Seminatrix pygaea)

Black swamp snakes are small, shiny black snakes with a red belly. They live in swamps and wetlands, where they eat small fish, tadpoles, and worms.

• Brown Snake (Storeria dekayi)

These are very small, common snakes often found in gardens and urban areas. They are brown or gray with small dark spots. They eat slugs and worms.

• Red-bellied Snake (Storeria occipitomaculata)

Similar to the brown snake, but with a bright red or orange belly. They are also very small and eat slugs and worms.

• Florida Brown Snake (Storeria victa)

This is a subspecies of the brown snake found in Florida and parts of Georgia. It is also small and eats soft-bodied invertebrates.

• Southeastern Crowned Snake (Tantilla coronata)

These tiny, slender snakes have a dark head that looks like a crown. They live underground or under leaf litter and eat centipedes and other small invertebrates.

• Central Florida Crowned Snake (Tantilla relicta)

Another small, crowned snake found in sandy areas. It also eats centipedes and is rarely seen due to its secretive nature.

• Eastern Ribbon Snake (Thamnophis sauritus)

Ribbon snakes are very slender with three bright yellow stripes down their backs. They are excellent swimmers and live near water, eating small fish and amphibians.

• Eastern Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis)

Garter snakes are common and can be found in many habitats. They have stripes that can be yellow, green, or blue. They eat worms, slugs, and amphibians.

• Rough Earth Snake (Virginia striatula)

These small, brown snakes have keeled (rough) scales. They spend most of their time underground or under objects, eating earthworms and slugs.

• Smooth Earth Snake (Virginia valeriae)

Similar to the rough earth snake, but with smooth scales. It is also small and secretive, eating earthworms and slugs.

Venomous Snakes

Georgia is home to a few types of venomous snakes. These snakes have special fangs that deliver venom, which is a type of poison. It's important to know how to identify them and to give them space.

Vipers Vipers in Georgia are also known as pit vipers because they have heat-sensing pits on their faces. These pits help them find warm-blooded prey in the dark.

• Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix)

Copperheads have distinctive hourglass-shaped bands that are copper or reddish-brown. They are often found in wooded areas and near rocky outcrops. They are usually shy but can bite if stepped on or surprised.

• Cottonmouth (Water moccasin) (Agkistrodon piscivorus)

Cottonmouths are heavy-bodied snakes found near water. When threatened, they may open their mouths wide to show a white, cotton-like lining inside. They eat fish, frogs, and small mammals.

• Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus)

This is the largest venomous snake in North America. It has a pattern of dark diamond shapes with light borders and a rattle on its tail. They live in dry, sandy areas and are very powerful.

• Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus)

Timber rattlesnakes can be yellow, gray, or dark brown with dark bands. They also have a rattle on their tail. They prefer wooded hillsides and can be found in many parts of Georgia.

• Pigmy Rattlesnake (Sistrurus miliarius)

This is a small rattlesnake, usually less than two feet long. Its rattle is tiny and makes a sound like a buzzing insect. They have dark blotches on a gray or tan body.

Coral Snakes Coral snakes are known for their bright, colorful bands. They have a powerful venom, but they are very shy and rarely bite humans.

• Eastern Coral Snake (Micrurus fulvius)

The eastern coral snake has red, yellow, and black bands. Remember the rhyme: "Red touches yellow, kill a fellow; Red touches black, venom lack." This helps tell it apart from harmless look-alikes like the scarlet kingsnake. They are secretive and live in sandy areas.

Resources

• UGA.edu