How do I identify a snake in PA?
Nonvenomous Pennsylvania native snakes do not possess facial pits, have round eye pupils and a double row of scales on the underside of the tail. Head shape often presents problems in identification. Copperheads and rattlesnakes have flattened, triangular- shaped heads.
How many different kinds of snakes are in Pennsylvania?
21 species
There are 21 species of snakes found in Pennsylvania and three of them — timber rattlesnakes, copperhead and the eastern massasauga — are venomous. The massasauga are only found in Venango, Butler and Mercer counties in Pennsylvania.
What does a Pennsylvania copperhead snake look like?
“Medium-sized, heavy bodied species. The background is pinkish brown, light tan to greyish brown with wide brown to reddish brown bands that become darker towards the margin. The bands are saddle shaped (hourglass) that are broader along the sides and become narrower across the dorsum.
Where are Copperheads found in PA?
The Copperhead inhabits the lower two-thirds of Pennsylvania. Its range generally follows the southern limits of huge glaciers that eons ago scraped and ground their way into the northern hemisphere.
Where are copperheads found in PA?
What is the most common snake in Pennsylvania?
Garter Snakes: Probably the most commonly sighted snake in PA, and often referred to as a Garden Snake or Gardener Snake. Both the common garter snake and the striped garter snake can be found in this state, one that can come in many designs and colors, but all have a stripe down the length of the back.
What is the most poisonous snake in Pennsylvania?
The timber rattlesnake ( Crotalus horridus ) is the most commonly encountered venomous snake in Pennsylvania. It is found near rock outcroppings, crevices and ledges in upland forests across most of Pennsylvania. The adult is 35-60 inches in length.
What snakes live in PA?
There are three venomous species native to PA – Timber Rattlesnake, Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake and the Northern Copperhead. All three are pit vipers. Pit vipers have distinctive characteristics, which can separate them visually from the native nonvenomous species of snakes in PA.
What types of rattlesnakes are found in Pennsylvania?
Venomous Snakes in Western Pennsylvania Copperheads. One of Pennsylvania’s most aggressive breeds, Copperhead snakes are the cause of thousands of rarely-fatal bites a year. Timber Rattlesnakes. The largest of Pennsylvania’s venomous snakes, Timber Rattlesnakes can be found in forests throughout the eastern United States. Massasauga Rattlesnakes.