12 of the most common nonvenomous snakes in Florida
Overall, there are about 47 nonvenomous snakes that live in Florida. Still, this number isn’t all that helpful because most times, people only see a few of the most common species of snake. Here is a detailed description of some of the most common nonvenomous snakes you could encounter in Florida. Our complete list of nonvenomous snakes is under it!
Black pine snake
The black pine snake is a large, thick snake that has a reddish-brown blotch pattern on a cream or tan base color. Some pine snakes don’t have a distinct pattern and are just light-colored, while others may even look totally black. These snakes can be found throughout most of the state, save for the Keys, the Everglades, and the southwestern region. As their name suggests, they are most commonly found in pine and turkey-oak stands. Pine snakes burrow in dry, sandy soil and are occasionally found in suburban habitats.
Black racer
The black racer is a long and slender snake with a black body and cream or white chin. Young snakes are brownish and often have reddish blotches that closely resemble that of a juvenile corn snake. Racers get their name from the speed at which they are known to move if threatened. These snakes can be found in every portion of the state, including the Florida Keys.
Corn snake
Corn snakes are some of the prettiest snakes around. These snakes are medium-sized snakes that can grow to four feet long. They vary in color, but most individuals in Florida have a gray or white body with a bright red or orange pattern across their backs. Their bellies are checkerboard in black in white, giving them their name. Corn snakes are found across all of Florida, including the Keys. They are also kept as pets and sold in stores.
Eastern coachwhip
The eastern coachwhip is a long, slender snake that can grow to 4-5 feet long. As adults, the eastern coachwhips have light tan bodies and extremely dark brown or black necks and heads, giving them a curious two-toned look. Additionally, they have prominent yellow irises. The eastern coachwhip can be found throughout mainland Florida.
Florida banded water snake
The Florida banded water snake (often called the banded water snake) is a large snake with a brown body and dark brown cross bands running from head to tail. The thick bands are usually darker, while the thin bands are lighter and can occasionally be shades of red or yellow. The Florida banded water snakes can be found throughout mainland Florida.
Florida brown water snake
The brown water snake is similar to the banded water snake in size and length. The brown water snakes have brown bodies with dark brown or black squarish markings across their backs. They can slightly resemble the water moccasin, although brown water snakes aren’t venomous or dangerous. These snakes can be found throughout mainland Florida. They generally prefer rivers, saw grass, swamps, and other wetlands.
Mississippi green water snake
The green water snake is also similar in size to the other water snakes on the list. This snake is stout and has a dark green background color and narrow markings down the back and sides. Although its color is often recognized as “green,” it can often be mistaken as brown or olive. This snake is found exclusively around coastal Escambia County in the far western Panhandle.
Florida rough green snake
The rough green snake is a small and slender snake that is bright green in color, with a pale cream or yellow belly. This little snake is only a few inches long and can be extremely vivid. The rough green snake is found throughout the entire state, including the Florida Keys. It generally prefers forests and meadows but is mostly arboreal, spending its time in trees and shrubs.
Garter snake
The garter snake is one of the most common snakes in the eastern United States. Garter snakes are medium-sized snakes that can grow to 2 or 3 feet in length. They have three thin stripes running vertically down their backs. The stripes can vary in color but are usually yellow, green, brown, blue, or white. Garter snakes can be found throughout Florida, including the Keys.
Kingsnakes
Kingsnakes are a group of snakes that include examples like the Apalachicola kingsnake, eastern kingsnake, and the Florida kingsnake. Kingsnakes vary in color, size, and patterns quite drastically. The most common of them all is probably the eastern kingsnake. Eastern kingsnakes are large snakes with black bodies and a white banding pattern. Scarlet kingsnakes can be found throughout the entirety of Florida, including the Keys. Eastern kingsnakes can be found “north of a line from Pinellas County to Flagler County and west into the Panhandle, excluding the eastern Apalachicola lowlands south of Telogia Creek.” The Florida kingsnake can be found south of Taylor County and into the Keys. The northern mole kingsnake can be found in the Panhandle and as far east as Franklin County. The Apalachicola king snake can be found in the Panhandle around the Apalachicola lowlands of Telogia Creek. The short-tailed kingsnake can be found in north central Florida and is exclusive to the region. The South Florida mole kingsnake exclusively lives on the peninsula from Brevard County south to Lake Okeechobee and west to Charlotte and DeSoto counties.
Rat snakes
The eastern rat snake, also known as the yellow rat snake, is a subspecies of rat snake native to Florida. Eastern rat snakes are long-bodied and have a yellowish-orange coloration with four lines running vertically from head to tail. Another subspecies, the gray rat snake, also lives in the region. Gray rat snakes are similarly sized but have a slate gray body with square brown markings down their backs. Eastern rat snakes can be found in the Panhandle and through the peninsula as far south as Key Largo. Gray rat snakes can be found throughout the peninsula.
Ring-necked snake
The ring-necked snake is extremely common if rarely seen. Ring-necked snakes are small snakes that rarely grow more than a foot long and have black bodies with distinctive orange or yellow bellies. They get their names from the ring of color around their necks. Ring-necked snakes can be found everywhere in Florida, including the Keys. They are frequently burrowed or hiding under large flat objects like sheet metal or wood.
A complete list of nonvenomous snakes in Florida:
North American racerRed corn snakeEastern rat snakeBrahminy blind snakeRing-necked snakeEastern coachwhipSouthern water snakePine woods littersnakeCommon garter snakeRough green snakeScarletsnakeScarlet kingsnakeGray rat snakeRed-bellied mud snakeDeKay’s brown snakeBrown water snakeFlorida brown snakeEastern indigo snakeEastern ribbon snakeEastern hog-nosed snakeRainbow snakeRed-bellied snakeEastern kingsnakeSalt marsh snakeBlack swamp snakeBurmese pythonFlorida kingsnakeAfrican rock pythonEastern pine snakeFlorida crowned snakeSmooth earth snakeMidland water snakeStriped swamp snakeNorthern mole kingsnakeMississippi green water snakeGlossy swamp snakeRough earth snakeApalachicola kingsnakeBoa constrictorPlain-bellied water snakeSoutheastern crowned snakeShort-tailed kingsnakeSouthern hog-nosed snakeSouth Florida mole kingsnakeQueensnakeRim Rock crowned snakeJavan file snake
