From proper husbandry and habitat guidance, to articles on health concerns, diet, and extensive care guides, Reptile Guide is here to educate everyone on all things reptiles. Most of the snake species you see in your garden or around your home are harmless species like Eastern ribbon snakes. Discover alligator-eating snakes, spiders larger than your phone, and 1000 more incredible animals in our daily FREE email. The areas with the highest concentrations of eastern massasauga snakes are Cedar Bog, Killdeer Plains, and Mosquito Creek. shy and elusive. These very unique regions provide fantastic habitats for many different types of snakes, including three types of venomous snakes. In Ohio these snakes are found in remote areas of the southeastern part of the state. The snakes have a pattern thats most often confused with water mocassins (cottonmouths), yet theyre not poisonous. Thats because this snake thrives on rodents of all kinds. Timber rattlesnakes are among the most populous rattlesnakes in the northeastern United States and compete with prairie rattlesnakes for the most northerly venomous snake. This is rarely a good idea. Lets begin! But it's one of the few venomous snakes residing in the Buckeye State. This identification guide takes a closer look at snakes in Ohio and will share basic information that can help you identify all 27 species. The head is long and slightly glossy, with round pupils. Eastern timber rattlesnakes are easily the most dangerous snakes in Ohio. This guide is meant to help It has an unusual diet compared to the snakes most people are familiar with and feeds mainly on slugs and snails. It lives almost exclusively in deciduous forests, though it may wander when food is scarce. Their bodies are tan with dark brown, hourglass-shaped crossbands that fade to a lighter brown in the center of the bands. For example, there are several different types of garter snakes that live in Ohio. Imagine Seeing This 30-Foot Sea Snake in the Open Ocean Gulp! The eastern garter snake is a common snake often referred to as the garden snake. Eastern Hog-nosed Snake: The eastern hog-nosed snake is usually gray or yellow-brown in color. The timber rattlesnake is an endangered species in Ohio and is only known to have habitats in the southern portion of the state. Snakes in this family all share certain characteristics, namely: The Crotalinae, or pit vipers, also have heat-sensing pits and sometimes rattles. educate you about the beautiful snakes of Akron, and to help you identify the most common snakes of Akron, as well as the venomous snakes of Akron that you should learn to recognize and avoid. After a poisonous snake has bitten someone, they will attempt to kill it to take it in to be identified. One of the characteristic traits of this species is that it has highly variable patterning. Ohios snakes are mostly nonvenomous, but any cornered snake will bite. Venomous Snake Species in Cleveland. The head is well-rounded and the tiny eyes have round pupils. The belly is a creamy white color, the tail is well-defined, and the snakes pupils are round. King Cobra vs Rattlesnake: 5 Key Differences, Cottonmouth vs Rattlesnake: 5 Key Differences, Discover the Largest Anaconda Ever (A 33, Discover the Monster Snake 5X Bigger than, The 7 Best Snake Guard Chaps You Can Buy Today. It is just 2-3 feet long. They have a moderately stout body with a broad head that is distinct from the neck. If you want more detail, Today, venomous snakes are rare in the state, decimated by loss of habitat and human predation, but there are still some around and outdoor folk should be aware of them. All the other species have round pupils. The snakes in Northeast Ohio wont be the same as those in Central Ohio. Imagine Seeing This 30-Foot Sea Snake in the Open Ocean Gulp! Its more likely to eat the mice that may become a pest in your home. Different Ohio snakes have different head shapes and pupil shapes. Ohio snakes vary significantly in shape and form. Please treat the snakes of Columbus with respect! It has unkeeled scales, which gives it a smooth appearance. I am David, a snake enthusiast living in Dayton, OH. educate you about the beautiful snakes of Columbus, and to help you identify the most common snakes of Columbus, as well as the venomous snakes of Columbus that you should learn to recognize and avoid. While some species like the garter snakes and rat snakes are generalists that will eat any small animals that they can catch, other species only feed on a specific type of animal. Massasauga rattlesnakes are heavy-bodied rattlesnakes that live in Ohio. Venom, on the other hand, is a toxin that is injected into your body. Home; About Us. The venom of theEastern Massasaugarattlesnake is cytotoxic venom that destroys tissue. There are just three types of venomous snakes in Ohio, and one of them is so rare you will likely never encounter it. Although there are only three species of venomous snakes in Ohio, many people mistake harmless snakes for dangerous ones. Welcome to cincinnatisnakes.com! Some Ohio snake species are more common outside of the city limits, in different parts of Summit County OH, but many types of snakes are indeed common in the more urban parts of Akron. Only the pit vipers have vertical pupils. Most of the Ohio snakes are non-venomous species like the garter snakes and rat snakes. Three of the species in the state are endangered and protected by either federal or state law, specifically: Ohio has three venomous snake species, namely: The rest of their approximately 25 species are non-venomous. When he isn't distracted by his backyard birdfeeder, you can find him camping, exploring, and telling everyone around him about what he's recently learned. The dangerous rattlesnake is most commonly seen in marshes and wetlands. The background color for the species is dark gray or brown with black or dark brown bands throughout the body. At one point, it was considered the longest snake in North America. Up in the hills, you are more likely to venomous Timber Rattlesnakes. The smooth green snake doesnt have such strongly keeled scales, giving it a smoother appearance. you find a rattlesnake on a pathway in the park), Try to treat the snakebite with home remedies, Exert themselves physically it will accelerate the spread of the venom, Panic it makes your heart beat faster, spreading the venom through your body more quickly, Try to suck the venom from the wound at best, it will do nothing, at worst, youll poison yourself, Contact a loved one or friend who lives nearby (if possible), Apply pressure to the wound to keep the poison from spreading, Splint the affected limb and wrap it tightly, keeping it below the level of the heart, Poison Control Centers national hotline: 1-800-222-1222. The northern copperhead has a heavy and wide body that is copper, orange, or pinkish-orange in color with brown or tan markings. They range from Ohio, up into New York, to the Mississippi River. The eastern massasauga is the most widespread venomous snake in Ohio when it comes to historical range. Due to its long fangs, impressive size, and highvenomyield, theTimber Rattlesnakeis one of North Americas most dangerous snakes. Timber rattlesnake: The timber rattlesnake is one of the venomous snakes of Canton Ohio. Usually, snake bites are the result of someone harassing a snake, or accidentally stepping on one. Poisonous snakes are grouped in a category known as pit vipers. Several other rat snakes occur in the region, but Ill discuss those later on. Their hourglass patterns are usually darker brown and repeat from below their heads to their tails. Its head is no wider than its body and its pupils are circular. This type of garter snake is the most common in Ohio, though it's one of five types of garter snakes in the state. They have a stripe down their back that ranges from pinkish, orange, brown, or black, with dark brown to black chevron, patterned bands on their back and sides. For example, timber rattlesnakes prefer wooded mountainsides, while water snakes only live near freshwater. There are nearly 2,000 different species! Their heads often lie ready to strike if they happen to see prey or a predator. Common Snake Species in Akron Eastern water snake: This is a harmless snake that can grow to a maximum length of 53 inches. Lets dive into some of the most important snakes to know in Ohio, along with pictures so you can better identify them. However, it tends to be more particular about its habitat type. educate you about the beautiful snakes of Toledo, and to help you identify the most common snakes of Toledo, as well as the venomous snakes of Toledo that you should learn to recognize and avoid. Most snakes have a well-defined distribution range, which they wont leave. Northern brown snakes are small, thin snakes that live everywhere in Ohio except for the eastern border of the state. Common watersnakes are brown or black and have brown banding that runs down their bodies. Much of the fear related to snakes are the result of misunderstandings. While their range is limited to a small portion of the state, they can grow quite large, sometimes reaching five feet in length. The gray rat snake can easily climb trees so you might see one on the ground hidden among the brush or grass or you could look up and see one hanging in a tree above you. Its a common species with no preferred habitat type. I am David, a snake enthusiast living in Cincinnati, OH. The Eastern milk snakes have rounded heads no wider than their bodies. If you have a phone, take a picture of the offending reptile. When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. They also tend to have black or dark brown splotches around their bodies. The list of things you shouldnt do is considerably longer. You just need to know where to find them - they can often be We will go into each venomous snake and where to find them in Ohio. Its a close relative of the water moccasin, and people sometimes confuse the two. Timber rattlesnakes are among the most populous rattlesnakes in the northeastern United States and compete with prairie rattlesnakes for the most northerly venomous snake. They are found in river bottoms where the leaf and plant debris provide cover for them to hide. Northern Copperhead photo courtesy of Wikipedia Commons This four minute video features naturalist Jenny Richards of Shawnee State Park describing Ohio's three species of venomous snakes. It might sound crazy, but did you know that there isnt a single snake in the world that is poisonous? The upper surface is dark brown with light brown or gray stripes. I am David, a snake enthusiast living in Cleveland, OH. Smooth earth snakes have a gray or dark brown base color that helps them hide in the soil and at the base of trees in the forest. Contents [ hide ] Although they are rarely seen, they are one of the native Ohio venomous snakes. Take note of the habitat where you see a snake, as it can help to identify the snake. This species is endemic to the Central United States. These snakes also tend to wrap themselves in tightly rolled coils with the tail sticking out in an upward position. The family Viperidae is a considerably smaller family, but it contains many medically significant species, including some of the worlds most venomous snakes. The averageTimber Rattlesnakegrows between 36 to 60 inches long. Have some feedback for us? And the snake has a bright orange-red or red belly which is where the name comes from. educate you about the beautiful snakes of Cleveland, and to help you identify the most common snakes of Cleveland, as well as the venomous snakes of Cleveland that you should learn to recognize and avoid. Ohio's nonvenomous snakes do not. Usually, the eastern milk snake is found in the woods, in meadows, on farms, and in barns and outbuildings where it can find a lot of rodents to eat. Jan. 12, 2013. While its broad head might be similar to that of the pit vipers, its far too flat to truly resemble them. It makes dinner out of frogs, minnows, mice, slugs, earthworms, toads, and frogs. Different groups of snakes also have differently-shaped heads. Timber rattlesnakes are some of the largest venomous Ohio snakes. Lets take a look at one of these water snakes. Thats enough to give enough a startle! We will go into each venomous snake and where to find them in Ohio Eastern Copperhead ( Agkistrodon contortrix) Eastern Massasauga ( Sistrurus catenatus) Timber Rattlesnake ( Crotalus horridus) Shop Amazon for snake safety gear. A solid cream band runs around the side of the snakes entire body including the head. Snakes you saw earlier on the list such as the eastern fox snake and gray rat snake are quite adept in water environments. Mike DeWine suffered injury while in East Palestine, U.S. The Ohio Department of Natural . There are only three venomous, or poisonous, snakes in Ohio. Most snakes of a species never outgrow the average size. The copper-bellied water snake has a black upper side with a copper-colored underside. Since there are only three types of venomous snakes in Ohio, identifying them is relatively easy. According to iNaturalist, the following ten species are the most common snakes in Ohio: In the following sections, well take a closer look at each of them, share some basic information, and tell you which characteristics are unique to each species. Even though the timber rattlesnake is the most venomous of all the snakes in Ohio, it doesn't often attack people. Among other things, this identification guide will share: Ill also share Ohio snakes in pictures, and some of my favorite resources for dealing with snakes in this state.