Poisonous Snakes In Ohio: Obvious Ohio Snake Facts You Should Know!

Three species of poisonous snakes in Ohio have been recognized by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. For many people, there is nothing scarier than a snake filled with venom. Ohio is one such state in the USA where venomous snakes can be found. Are there such venom-filled snakes in Ohio?

How many poisonous snakes are there in Ohio? All these questions will be answered here. Let us learn about venom-filled snakes in the state of Ohio.

Afterward, also read about how do snakes move and do snakes have ears?

What's the most dangerous snake in Ohio?

There are many poisonous snakes in Ohio. Compared to other venomous snakes, three snake species stand out more in terms of venom. They are considered very dangerous and if you come across them, run as fast as you can.

The northern copperhead is one of the venomous species of snakes in Ohio. This snake has been found in southern counties on the west side. They live in rocky and hilly mountain areas in Ohio.

They have a stocky body and are seen in orange, copper, or pinkish shades. They also have dark-colored bands across their body. It is hard to spot a northern copperhead because they can camouflage.

Their body is similar to the shade of fallen leaves which makes it hard to spot these snakes. This venomous snake has bitten more people in the United States compared to other snake species.

Although the number of deaths caused by the bite of this venomous snake is few, their bite can cause serious illness in a human being. The bite is also very painful which is what makes this snake a threat. They won't attack humans unless provoked to do so.

There are other venomous snakes in Ohio but the copperhead has a reputation of biting more people. The shyness of this snake does not prevent it from biting people; that happens when they are provoked. That is why it is a dangerous snake in Ohio.

Ohio’s Three Venomous Snake Species

We have talked about Ohio having three venomous snake species. One of them is the northern copperhead. What are the others? Are they very dangerous? Is the bite of these venomous snakes fatal to humans? Where are these snakes seen?

We have already discussed the northern copperhead. Its copper-colored head and 3 ft (10 m) long body makes it a dangerous species.

But this snake doesn't attack easily. Even when it attacks, the venom that gets into the body is not fatal enough to kill humans, but the pain is a little too much. These snakes are dangerous and beautiful at the same time, a vicious combination.

Next comes the massasauga rattlesnake. They are one of two rattlesnakes seen in Ohio. They are an endangered species seen in Ohio.

The eastern massasauga rattlesnake has a medium size with a gray and brown body. They are seen in marshy areas and wetlands. The eastern massasauga rattlesnake has venom that is highly toxic but the bite from these snakes is rarely fatal to humans.

The venom in a bite does not harm humans in a great way. But that doesn’t negate the fact that this eastern massasauga rattlesnake is a venomous snake. These rattlesnakes should be treated with caution.

The next most venomous snake found in Ohio is also a rattlesnake. It is called the timber rattlesnake. A timber rattlesnake is also part of the Endangered species list in Ohio.

Due to its large size, the timber rattlesnake species is considered very dangerous. It has a length of about 6 ft (20 m). These snakes are mild when you come across them.

These rattlesnakes rarely attack and remain coiled or crawl away. They live in southern parts of Ohio.

This species can have either yellowish or black-brown color depending on the phase that it is in. A timber rattlesnake feeds on small mammals. Although it rarely attacks humans, the timber rattlesnake has a scary, large body that intimidates people.

What counties in Ohio are copperheads found in?

We have talked about the northern copperhead species in Ohio. But where in Ohio can you spot these snakes?

The copperhead is seen in counties like Adams, Scioto, Lawrence, Jackson, Vinton, Hocking, Athens, Meigs, and Washington in the state of Ohio. They are most active around April and are seen until October in greater numbers.

This copperhead species is seen along unglaciated Ohio. It is not an Endangered species of snakes, so you can see a considerable amount of these snakes in Ohio.

They are a rare sight in northern counties of eastern Ohio but in other places, there is a significant amount of this species. Although these snakes have no problem occupying well-settled areas, they are seen more in remote, hilly areas.

A bite from these snakes will not cause death in most cases but being bitten by these snakes is an extremely painful experience.

Identifying All 25 Species

Apart from three venomous snakes, there are other snakes in the state of Ohio, 25, to be exact. Out of these 25, only three are venomous snakes. Others are all nonvenomous snakes.

The northern copperhead, the eastern timber rattlesnake, and the eastern massasauga rattlesnake are three venomous snakes. Among these, the eastern timber rattlesnake and the massasauga rattlesnake are Endangered too. Let us talk about other snakes found in Ohio.

Kirtland snakes in Ohio have a bright red belly. There are rows of black spots along each side of the belly. They are seen in wet areas. The brown snake has two rows of dark spots that are seen along its back.

These snakes are harmless. Hog-nosed snakes in Ohio are great actors. These snakes pretend to be dangerous and do an ‘ I will bite you like a cobra’ pose just to scare people.

They are seen in various colors from yellow and brown to black and gray. The northern red-bellied snake is one of the smallest snakes in Ohio. It has a brown colored body with a purple tint. Some are seen fully in black color.

The eastern smooth snake has a plain gray or brown color. Its belly is either yellow or white in shade. The ring-necked snake has a ring around the neck that has a yellow or yellowish-orange shade.

Worm snakes look like a worm with a small, pinkish brown translucent body. The northern black racer and blue racer are seen in different parts of Ohio. The former is a plain black color and the latter has a greenish or bluish shade.

The eastern rat snake is the largest snake in Ohio. It is black in color with a coloration pattern along the body. Fox snakes often look like a copperhead.

The king snake is black in color and eats venomous snakes. The venom has little effect on the king snake's beautiful black body. A milk snake has a black and white checkerboard pattern throughout its belly. The garter snake has yellow stripes on its dark body.

There are also brightly colored garter snakes in Ohio. Butler's garter snakes are also seen. Their lateral stripes cover a large part of the body. The ribbon snake has the appearance of a garter snake but has a relatively long tail.

Green snakes in Ohio have a beautiful grass-green body with a yellow shade on their belly. Two types of green snakes are found in Ohio. The dainty green snake has a smooth body with a green color.

The common water snake in Ohio is often confused with water moccasins and pit vipers. Lake Erie water snakes are also a type of water snake found in Ohio. The copper-bellied snake, as the name implies, has a copper-shaded belly with a black body.

Co-existing With Ohio Snakes

Living with these Ohio snakes is not that difficult. Just let them be and all is well for everyone.

There are only three snakes with venom in Ohio. These three are harmless if left alone. Other snakes are not poisonous either. It is prohibited to kill the two endangered rattlesnake species. Once you make sure that you are not causing any harm to these snakes, co-existing with these snakes becomes easier.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for poisonous snakes in Ohio then take a look at poisonous snakes in Georgia or poisonous snakes in Missouri.