Midwest Worm Snake Carphophis amoenus satiny gray below with a brown or dark amber Fox Snake Elaphe vulpina This snake version of the earthworm is iris of the eye. The blue racer may show Blue This snake of marshes and wet places has brown above and has a pink belly and sides. It varying shades of gunmetal gray or blue above bold blotches, a grayish- or brownish-yellow is secretive and seldom seen, spending most of and below with a darker head and eye area. Mixed body and a dull orange/reddish head and tail. its time under stones, boards and logs where Racers move fast and sometimes appear to Black It vibrates its tail if cornered, but rarely bites. the ground is moist. It feeds on soft-bodied “chase” people. In fact, this behavior is often Snakes insects and earthworms. associated with courtship and may be used to drive an Black Kingsnake Lampropeltis getulus getulus intruder out of a territory. This glossy black snake has speckles of Rough Green Snake Opheodrys aestivas white and cream that may be less apparent in Smooth Green Snake Opheodrys vernalis Eastern Milk Snake older snakes. It lives on streambanks and in Both species are green above with white, Lampropeltis triangulatum triangulatum moist meadows, where it feeds on other yellow or pale green bellies. The rough green Red Milk Snake snakes, turtle eggs, mice and voles. It is snake has keeled scales that give it a rough Lampropeltis triangulatum syspila “V” generally secretive and can be found under texture. This snake, listed as a species of This snake’s taste for mice makes pattern boards, logs and debris. This snake’s special concern in Indiana, spends most of its it a common visitor in barns. Hence, the reputation for killing and devouring time in trees feeding on crickets, grasshoppers, butterfly/ myth developed that it drinks cow’s milk! poisonous snakes is well known. moth larvae and spiders. It is so well camouflaged by its The smooth green snake has smooth pattern of black rimmed rusty-red Rough What If I Get Bitten? scales. It rarely climbs and is generally Smooth blotches on a background of light gray Avoid bites by watching snakes in their natural habitat smaller than the rough green snake. It is that it is often missed. A light “Y” or instead of picking them up. Look closely before stepping only found in three small areas of the state. “V” on the back of the neck when hiking trails or fishing along lake edges. If bitten: Eastern may be present. The belly is ¥ Keep calm. Most snakes are not poisonous. Make note Eastern Milk Snake Eastern Hognose Snake Heterodon platyrhinos an irregular checkerboard of black on white. of the markings, color, behavior and habitat of the This snake of open, sandy areas is recognized by its At night, it hunts small rodents and snake. upturned nose, wide head lizards, constricting them in its coils to ¥ Clean the bitearea thoroughly with soap and water as and thick body. It may be Red suffocate them before swallowing them. This soon as possible. of Indiana solid black, gray, yellow- harmless snake is often mistaken for the rustier ¥ If you think the snake was poisonous, or if you are green or orange with dark red, elliptical-eyed, wider-headed northern copperhead, unsure, have a friend find a phone or contact property State Parks and blotches and spots on its which does not have a checkerboard belly. The red milk staff and call 9-1-1. Walk-don’t run-when moving, and back and sides. snake is larger, brighter red and has a white or yellow keep the bitten part of your body lower than your heart. Often called the puff adder, spreading adder or blow “collar.” Reservoirs viper, it will flatten its head and neck like a Protection for Indiana’s Snakes cobra’s hood, inflate its body and make a Black Rat SnakeElaphe obsoleta obsoleta Indiana’s snakes, turtles, lizards, salamanders, striking motion if threatened. It may roll The “pilot black snake,” is a good climber. toads frogs and their eggs are protected by a law over on its back and play dead with its Shed skins are often found in attics and forks that prevents collection of any nongame reptiles DNR mouth open and its tongue hanging out. It of trees. This constrictor feeds on mice and or amphibians without a valid fishing or hunting will remain that way, limp and lifeless, even bird eggs and is usually a welcome resident in license. Even with a valid license, collecting is Department of Natural Resources if picked up. Toads are a favorite food and farmers’ barns and outbuildings. Although restricted to four individuals from a defined list of Division of State Parks and Reservoirs are swallowed whole. black rat snakes can and will bite when species. Collecting is not permitted on state park Interpretive Services cornered, they are not usually aggressive. Black rat properties, even with a valid license. Protect 402 W. Washington Room W298 Indiana’s reptiles and amphibians - leave turtles, Indianapolis, IN 46204 Southern Black Racer Coluber constrictor priapus snakes resemble black racers but are loaf-shaped instead 317/232-4124 Blue Racer Coluber constrictor foxi of round. The belly is usually white or a black and white snakes, lizards, salamanders toads and frogs in Racers are constrictors and feast on a diet of large checkerboard pattern. The area between scales is light their native habitats where they can remain healthy and wild! insects, frogs, lizards, snakes, small rodents and birds. colored. A pattern of blotches on the back is common. The mission of the Interpretive Services is to provide information Both species typically have white on the chin and throat. For more information about these laws, contact the and offer interpretive experiences with Indiana’s natural and The black racer is slender and satiny black above and Thanks to Amelia Hansen for reptile artwork Division of Fish and Wildlife. cultural resources to visitors, staff and a diverse public. and to Bruce Kingsbury for brochure review. 7/01-12M It’s a Snake! Northern Water Snake Nerodia sipedon sipedon Eastern Garter Snake Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis You turn over a rock in the creek, looking for fossils, and suddenly – it’s a snake! You may see snakes in our campgrounds, Midland Water Snake Nerodia sipedon pleuralis Sometimes mistakenly called the “garden” or sunning on logs, swimming in our lakes and marshes and even dangling on the end of a fishing line! Are they poisonous? Will This common reptile of “gardener” snake, it is seen along trails, in meadows and they bite? This brochure answers your questions about our common snakes. Not all Indiana snakes are listed here, and not all streams, ponds and lakes suns beside creeks. Look for brown checks on a snakes listed here are found on every state park and reservoir property. Habitat, climate and people impact where snakes can itself on rocky banks and fallen greenish-brown back, round eyes and red, be found. Species ranges are shaded on accompanying maps. branches. It grabs unsuspecting forked, black- Jacobson’s Organ frogs, salamanders, tadpoles or Cool Stuff! fish with its teeth and tipped 1. Snakes don’t have ears. They feel vibrations through the bones in their lower jaw. Northern swallows them whole. tongue. 2. Snakes use their tongues and a special structure in the roof of the mouth called the Jacobson’s This nonpoisonous Each organ to “taste” what is around them. snake is often mistaken for a northern individual seems 3. Most snakes have 6 rows of teeth: 2 on top, 2 on bottom and 2 in the roof of the mouth. Midland copperhead or water moccasin because of the to have a 4. There are 2100 species worldwide, 115 species in North America and 31 species in Indiana. patterned, dark brown and tan crossbands on personality that the neck and front. If caught, it may thrash extends even to Setting the Record Straight About Indiana’s Poisonous (Venomous) Snakes and bite. It can hold its breath underwater for preferences in food. almost 3 minutes at a time. This snake flicks its tongue in and out and watches for Only four Indiana snakes are venomous. All are pit vipers, which means they have heat-sensing pits near the eyes to help the motion of earthworms, insects, minnows, tadpoles, them locate their warm-blooded prey. Queen Snake Regina septemvittata frogs, salamanders, birds and small mammals. Prey is Northern Copperhead Copperhead This harmless water snake has a dull grabbed with the teeth and swallowed whole. Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen banding pattern olive-brown back and a yellow belly with 4 The northern copperhead is Indiana’s most back and hibernates in dens. Colors and patterns vary from distinct brown stripes running the length of N. Ribbon Snake Thamnophis sauritus septentrionalis common poisonous snake. Its coloring includes almost black to yellow with dark blotches. The its body. It is sometimes mistaken for the E. Ribbon Snake Thamnophis sauritus sauritus a coppery-red head and an hourglass pattern of distinctive head shape and rattle at the end of the tail are water moccasin. It feeds almost entirely on This slim relative of the garter snake has a reddish brown bands on its body. It is side characteristic. A new rattle segment is added when the soft-bodied crayfish that have shed their dark slender body with three bright yellow Northern sometimes confused with the water snake. snake sheds its skin once or twice a year. shells. Its picky eating habits make it difficult to stripes. The middle stripe is sometimes orange The bands of the copperhead are keep in captivity. or greenish. It stays close to streams and narrow along the back and wide wide Massasauga Rattlesnake marshes where it feeds on fish and frogs; it Eastern on either side. Banding on the band Sistrurus catenatus catenatus Kirtland’s Water Snake Clonophis kirtlandi rarely eats earthworms. The two subspecies water snake is saddlelike; wide on The massasauga is a small endangered This endangered water snake, found listed are almost indistinguishable. the back and narrow on the side. pit viper found only in northern Indiana in primarily in the Midwest, has a reddish belly This nocturnal reptile lives in marshy, swampy areas and bogs. It may be and a visible row of round black spots down Northern Ring-necked Snake Diadophis punctatus dry, rocky areas, but can be found in old found in woodlands and old fields on each side. It feeds on earthworms and slugs in This slender snake hides beneath logs or outbuildings and barns. Its venom kills prey and occasion. It is spotted with dark black or brown wet meadows and swamp forests. It flattens rotting bark while hunting earthworms, slugs, breaks down tissues for digestion. Young copperheads eat blotches on the back and 3 rows of small, dark spots on its body into a ribbonlike position if alarmed. salamanders and lizards. It has a slate-gray a lot of caterpillars. Adults feed mostly on amphibians and either side. This “swamp rattler,” which eats mice and back, yellow belly and unmistakable mammals. The bite reflex remains active up to an hour or other snakes, is generally mild mannered and rarely Midland Brown Snake Storeria dekayi yellow ring around the neck. If more after a northern copperhead’s death. The bite of this strikes unless stepped on. This reptile is often mistaken for a young caught, it will twist, squirm snake is extremely painful but rarely life threatening. garter snake. It has two parallel rows of black and release a foul-smelling liquid that It’s a Water Moccasin! I know it is! spots down the back and a is a combination of musk, feces and Timber Rattlesnake Well, probably not Ð not in Indiana. The brown body. The young urine. The northern ring-necked Crotalus horridus horridus “cottonmouth” is a distinctly southern species. One have a light band on the snake rarely bites. The timber rattlesnake small population is known in the south central portion neck like the northern is endangered in Indiana. of the state. The water moccasin is recognized by the ring-necked snake, (see For more information and color pictures to aid in snake This grandfather of all poisonous distinctive white mouth lining that it displays when next column) but brown snakes have rough identification get a copy of Peterson’s Guide to Reptiles and snakes lives on dry forested hillsides annoyed. The color patterns are easily confused with scales. This snake is common in marshes and Amphibians (ISBN 0-395-90452-8) or The Golden Guide to those of the northern or midland water snake. moist woods. Reptiles of North America (ISBN-0-307-13666-3)