Snakes of Pennsylvania

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First lets talk about Hunting or Killing Snakes

All snakes in Pennsylvania are protected by Fish and Boat Commission regulations.
Species that are not listed as Endangered, Threatened, or Candidate may be captured or possessed under specific daily and possession limits
(Consult the Summary of Pa Fishing Regulations and Laws).
Endangered or Threatened species such as Kirtland's snake, eastern massasauga and rough green snake cannot be caught, killed, possessed, imported to, or exported from Pennsylvania.
The timber rattlesnake is protected under additional regulations and permits regarding seasons and possession limits.
Specific questions about current regulations can be directed to any of the Commission's Regional Law Enforcement Offices or the Herpetology and Endangered Species Coordinator

There are 19 Nonvenomous and 3 Venomous

Snake Species Common to Pennsylvania.

snake heads

All Pennsylvania Native
Venomous Snakes Possess 3 Things
This only applies to spotting poisonous snakes in Pennsylvania
It does not apply outside of Pennsylvania
Even though it maybe the "SAME" Species

1. An indentation or pit on each side of the head between the eye and nostril,

2. A vertically elliptical eye pupil resembling that of a cat. Snakes with verticle slit pupils open their pupils to a fully rounded state under low light conditions. This doesn't apply to snakes in the shade.
snake eyes

3. A single row of scales on the underside of the tail. Of course, rattlesnakes usually display one or more rattles.
However, these may be missing because of natural causes.

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To View a Snake on "THIS" page Click on it's name

3 Venomous Snakes Common to Pennsylvania are:

Northern Copperhead, Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen
Timber Rattlesnake, Crotalus horridus
Eastern Massasauga, Sistrurus catenatus catenatus

Nonvenomous Pennsylvania Native Snakes do not possess facial pits, their eye pupils are round like a human's, and there is a double row of scales on the underside of the tail.
If bitten by a non-venomous snake, it should be looked at and treated thoroughly with antibiotics. Water snakes especially. Water snakes are infamous for having septic mouths with lots of potentially infectious micro-organisms in them. They do more serious injury every year than some rattlesnakes, all through infections.

19 Nonvenomous
Snakes Common to Pennsylvania

Eastern Wormsnake, Carphophis amoenus amoenus
Kirtland's Snake, Clonophis kirtlandii
Northern Black Racer, Coluber constrictor constrictor
Northern Ring-necked Snake, Diadophis punctatus edwardsii
Black Ratsnake, Elaphe obsoleta obsoleta
Eastern Hog-nosed Snake, Heterodon platirhinos
Eastern Milksnake, Lampropeltis triangulum triangulum
Northern Watersnake, Nerodia sipedon sipedon
Northern Rough Greensnake, Opheodrys aestivus aestivus
Smooth Greensnake, Opheodrys vernalis
Queen Snake, Regina septemvittata
Northern Brownsnake, Storeria dekayi dekayi
Northern Red-bellied Snake, Storeria occipitomaculata occipitomaculata
Short-headed Gartersnake, Thamnophis brachystoma
Common Ribbonsnake, Thamnophis sauritus sauritus
Northern Ribbonsnake, Thamnophis sauritus septentrionalis
Eastern Gartersnake, Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis
Eastern Smooth Earthsnake, Virginia valeriae valeriae
Mountain Earthsnake, Virginia valeriae pulchra

Do's and Don'ts if bitten

If a person is bitten by a venomous snake, there are several steps that should be taken. The staff at the Central Pennsylvania Poison Center of the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania recommends the following do's and don'ts in the event of a snakebite.

Do's
1. Calm and reassure the victim, and keep the victim immobile.
2 .Call the Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222.
3. You may apply a light constricting band above the bite area (be able to insert a finger under the band). Do not release the band unless it becomes too tight from swelling.
4. Move the victim to a medical facility without delay.
5. A tetanus shot may also be required.

Don'ts
1. Don't use ice, cold packs or sprays.
2. Don't incise and suction unless directed by a physician.
3. Don't use a tourniquet.
4. Don't give alcohol or any drugs.
5. Don't wait to see if symptoms develop. Immediately transport the victim to a medical facility.

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