Say Hello to the Rattler
The warning rattle of this pit viper has made it one of the most famous snakes in the world. These snakes live in most states, and their venom can be highly toxic to humans. Fortunately, they are shy snakes, and human encounters are rare. Rattlesnakes are critical members of their ecosystems. It is always smart to be on the lookout for snakes when you’re hiking, and it’s especially smart to heed a hissing, rattling snake. If you see one, don’t approach it or antagonize it. It will probably leave you alone if you do the same.
Where do rattlesnakes live?
There are more than 30 species of this snake native to the U.S. Like most snakes, rattlers prefer warm, sunny weather and dense vegetation. They live in deserts, mountainous regions, forests, and prairies.
What dorattlesnakes eat?
Rattlesnakes are carnivores that eat mice, voles, chipmunks, and other small mammals. Like all snakes, they are extremely important for controlling rodent populations.
What is therattlesnake population in the United States?
Surprisingly, there are no official numbers available for snake species. Although we know snake populations are declining in the United States and globally, we don’t actually know how many there are. Scientists are working on ways of improving their ability to monitor snake populations, but reliable estimates are currently not available. In this list, we’ve compiled all the rattlesnake species that are native to each state.
Rattlesnake Species by State
Alabama: 3
Alabama is home to three rattler species:
PygmyTimber RattlesnakeEastern diamondback
Alaska: 0
Alaska has no rattlesnakes. In fact, it has no snake species at all.
Arizona: 14
With 14 species, Arizona has more types of rattlesnakes than any other state. They are:
Desert massasaugaMojave desert rattlesnakeSidewinderGrand CanyonArizona blackGreat BasinTigerBanded rockWestern diamondbackTwin-spottedSouthwestern speckledArizona ridge-nosedNorthern black-tailedPrairie rattlesnake
Arkansas: 2
Western diamondbackTimber
California: 12
California’s native rattlers are the:
Western diamondbackSidewinderMojave DesertColorado desert sidewinderSouthwestern speckledSouthern pacificPanamintNorthern MojaveMohave greenGreat basinRed diamondNorthern Pacific
Colorado: 3
Western massasaugaPrairieMidget-faced
Connecticut: 1
The state’s only rattler is the timber rattlesnake, which is also endangered in the state.
Delaware: 1
The timber rattlesnake is the only one in this state.
Florida: 3
Florida has many snakes, but only three of its species are rattlers:
PygmyEastern diamondbackTimber
Georgia: 3
TimberEastern diamondbackPygmy
Hawaii: 0
Hawaii has no rattlesnakes.
Idaho: 2
Western, which is another name for the prairie rattlesnakePacific
Indiana: 2
Eastern massasaugaTimber
Iowa: 3
TimberPrairieEastern massasauga
Kansas: 4
Western diamondbackPrairieTimberPygmy
Kentucky: 2
The state has more than 30 snake species, but only two are rattlesnakes:
PygmyTimber
Louisiana: 3
Of its three species, the canebrake is the most common rattler in Louisiana—and the most dangerous. It can grow up to 8 feet long and is extremely venomous.
Eastern diamondPygmyCanebrake
Maine: 0
Maine once had timber rattlesnakes, but it no longer does.
Maryland: 1
With the copperhead, the timber rattlesnake is one of only two Maryland snakes whose venom is dangerous to humans. The state has other venomous snakes, but their venom is not strong enough to harm humans.
Massachusetts: 1
The timber is the only rattlesnake in the state. It is classed as critically endangered in Massachusetts.
Michigan: 1
The eastern massasauga is the state’s only venomous snake.
Minnesota: 1
Timber
Mississippi: 3
PygmyEastern diamondbackCanebrake
Missouri: 3
TimberWestern pygmyEastern massasauga
Montana: 1
The western rattlesnake or prairie rattlesnake is the only venomous snake in Montana.
Nebraska: 3
PrairieTimberWestern massasauga
Nevada: 5
Mojave DesertSidewinderWestern diamondbackSpeckled southwesternGreat Basin
New Hampshire: 1
Timber rattlesnake
New Jersey: 1
Timber rattlesnake
New Mexico: 7
Western diamondbackAnimas ridge-nosed rattlesnakeMojave DesertBanded rock rattlesnakeMottled rockNorthern black-tailedPrairie rattlesnake
New York: 2
Timber rattlesnakeMassasauga rattlesnake
North Carolina: 3
Eastern diamondback rattlesnakePygmy rattlesnakeTimber rattlesnake
North Dakota: 1
Prairie rattlesnake
Ohio: 2
Massasauga rattlesnakeTimber rattlesnake
Oklahoma: 3
Western massasauga rattlesnakeWestern pygmy rattlesnakePrairie rattlesnake
Oregon: 3
Western rattlesnakeNorthern Pacific rattlesnakeGreat Basin rattlesnake
Pennsylvania: 2
Eastern massasauga rattlesnakeTimber rattlesnake
Rhode Island: 0
There are no rattlesnakes in the state.
South Carolina: 2
Timber rattlesnakeCanebrake rattlesnake
South Dakota: 1
Prairie rattlesnake
Tennessee: 2
Timber rattlesnakePygmy rattlesnake
Texas: 9
With lots of land and many different ecosystems, it’s natural that Texas should have a good variety of rattlesnakes. Its nine are:
Western diamondbackTimberDesert massasaugaMojave DesertPrairieWestern massasaugaBanded rockBlacktailMottled rock
Utah: 6
Utah has 30 snake species, and six of them are rattlesnakes. Its species include the Hopi rattlesnake, which is a subspecies of the prairie rattlesnake.
Mojave DesertSpeckled southwesternMidget-facedHopi rattlesnakeGreat BasinMojave Desert sidewinder
Vermont: 1
The timber rattlesnake is the state’s only venomous snake and is critically endangered. It is listed as a Species of Greatest Conservation Need in the state’s Wildlife Action Plan.
Virginia: 1
With the cottonmouth and copperhead, the timber rattlesnake is one of three venomous snakes that are native to Virginia.
Washington: 1
The only rattlesnake in this state is the western rattlesnake.
West Virginia: 1
The timber rattlesnake is West Virginia’s official state reptile. It is listed as a species deserving special protection under state law.
Wisconsin: 2
TimberEastern massasauga
Wyoming: 2
Wyoming’s two rattler species are the state’s only venomous snakes:
PrairieMidget-faced
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