Top 16+ Snake Species You’re Most Likely to Find in Your Backyard

Perhaps you love them, or maybe you’re utterly terrified of them; regardless, snakes are an unavoidable part of life in the U.S. This is especially the case if you live in Southern parts of the country, where it’s rather common to find snakes on your property. Don’t worry, though–a lot of these snakes are harmless (although not all of them), so here is a list of snake species that you’re more likely to find in your backyard.

Rat Snake

Often spotted in suburban yards, rat snakes have a reputation for being expert climbers. They’re another non-venomous species and share the Garter snake’s gift in controlling pests, but this time for rodent populations. Despite their intimidating size, they’re more interested in small mammals than people, so they’ll likely slither away if they sense you coming.

Milk Snake

Milk snakes sport vibrant colors, often leading them to be mistaken for more dangerous species, but in reality, they’re totally safe and quite shy. Generally, they prefer cooler, hidden areas, so you might find them under rocks or logs, and their diet mostly consists of small mammals and birds rather than insects.

Racer Snake

Yet another non-venomous snake that you might find in your backyard is the Racer snake, named for its impressive speed. Some racer species, such as the black racer, can be defensive and might show aggression if they feel threatened, but don’t panic–they’re no doubt more scared of you than you are of them.

Water Snake

If your yard has a nearby water source, you might find a water snake basking nearby, but just leave it be, as it won’t hurt you. Sure, some water snakes, such as the Northern water snake, can resemble venomous species and may display aggression if cornered, such as through bites. However, just don’t get too close, and you won’t have anything to worry about.

Ringneck Snake

This small, slender snake is easy to miss due to its miniature size and secretive nature, but if you can get close enough, you’ll see its grey or black skin with a distinct yellow or orange ring around its neck. Some people find this ring to be intimidating, but actually, Ringneck snakes are gentle creatures, mostly hunting for small invertebrates in between hiding under rocks or leaf piles.

Hog-nosed Snake

The hog-nosed snake’s upturned snout is its most distinctive feature, which is used to dig in sandy soils. When threatened, it flattens its head and may hiss, mimicking more dangerous species. Despite this act, it’s harmless and known for eating toads and small rodents around yards and gardens.

Gopher Snake

We can’t deny that Gopher snakes appear intimidating due to their size and markings, some of which mimic those of rattlesnakes. However, they don’t hold venom and are actually highly beneficial in controlling rodent populations. Just like the Hog-nosed, they may hiss at you, but it’s once again just a fake defense mechanism.

Corn Snake

Out of all the snakes on this list, Corn snakes are among the friendliest, easily identifiable by their reddish-orange pattern. Often found near barns or gardens, they primarily hunt small rodents and birds. Seriously–even if you hate snakes, you have nothing to fear with this species around, and it might even tolerate you holding it for a while.

Copperhead

We’ve got bad news for you–while most of the snakes on this list are non-venomous, Copperheads are not. In fact, they’re one of the few venomous snakes that might occasionally venture into backyards, so look out for their copper-colored heads and hourglass pattern. Thankfully, they typically avoid human interaction, but we’d still recommend exercising caution in the event that you do see one.

Bull Snake

The largest non-venomous snake on this list so far is the Bull snake, generally spotted near open fields or backyards with ample sun. They’re known for their loud hissing and defensive display, though, as with many hissing snakes, they’re harmless–unless you’re a rodent, which they love to hunt.

Ribbon Snake

The ribbon snake is small and slender, with bright stripes running down its body. Often found near water sources, it’s a swift and agile hunter of frogs, insects, and small fish, but not humans. Therefore, ribbon snakes are harmless to humans and contribute to controlling insect populations in backyard ecosystems, so while you might not like them, give them a break.

Coachwhip Snake

The long, whip-like bodies of the Coachwhip snake are quite unique, especially due to their brown and tan coloring. Usually, they prefer open, sunny areas where they can hunt lizards and small mammals, but they can occasionally venture into backyards. If you do see one, remember that, while they’re non-venomous, they can be defensive if handled and are usually fast to escape if disturbed.

Green Snake

Green snakes, such as the smooth green snake, blend seamlessly into grassy areas thanks to their bright, leaf-like coloring, making them common yet difficult to spot in your garden. They’re small, gentle, and harmless, mainly feasting on insects, and are particularly common in the eastern and southeastern U.S. Without them, who knows how overrun these regions would be with pesky bugs!?