Snakes in New Jersey

Common and non-venomous eastern garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis)
Photo: Wilson44691 - Own work, Public Domain   

New Jersey is home to 71 species of reptiles and amphibians. The Division of Fish and Wildlife's "Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of New Jersey" lists reptiles and amphibians and links to fact sheets excerpted from the Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of NJ. The frogs and toads also have a link to each species' calls which are shortened versions of those found on the vocalization CD. This online field guide is intended to provide instant access to pictures, maps, calls and descriptions for New Jersey’s reptiles and amphibians.

In this post, we are focusing on New Jersey's snakes. People more often than not have a fear of snakes. Much of that fear comes from a lack of ability to distinguish species and a fear that a snake id dangerous/venomous.

On this site, we often get comments about snakes that are almost always misidentifications. The most common misidentifications are about venomous snake sighting. We only have two venomous snakes in the state - the Northern Copperhead (more common to the northern part of the state) and the Eastern Timber Rattlesnake (more common in the south).

Northern Watersnake, Nerodia sipedon, non-venomous and found in NJ

Water moccasin or cottonmouth, not present in NJ,
venomous and sometimes misidentified for a water snake
Photo by Ltshears - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0

1. Black Rat Snake    Elaphe o. obsoleta
2. Corn Snake (E)    Elaphe g. guttata
3. "Coastal Plain" Milk Snake    L. t. triangulum X L. t. elapsoides
4. Eastern Garter Snake    Thamnophis s. sirtalis
5. Eastern Hognose Snake    Heterodon platyrhinos
6. Eastern Kingsnake    Lampropeltis g. getula
7. Eastern Milk Snake    Lampropeltis t. triangulum
8. Eastern Ribbon Snake    Thamnophis s. sauritus
9. Eastern Smooth Earth Snake    Virginia v. valeriae
10. Eastern Worm Snake    Carphophis a. amoenus
11. Northern Black Racer    Coluber c. constrictor
12. Northern Brown Snake    Storeria d. dekayi
13. Northern Pine Snake (T)    Pituophis m. melanoleucus
14. Northern Redbelly Snake    Storeria o. occipitomaculata
15. Northern Ringneck Snake    Diadophis punctatus edwardsii
16. Northern Scarlet Snake    Cemophora coccinea copei
17. Northern Water Snake    Nerodia s. sipedon
18. Queen Snake (E)    Regina septemvittata
19. Rough Green Snake    Opheodrys aestivus
20. Smooth Green Snake    Opheodrys vernalis
21. Southern Ringneck Snake    Diadophis p. punctatus
22. Northern Copperhead    Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen
23. Timber Rattlesnake (E)    Crotalus horridus

Wikipedia also has a useful list of snakes in New Jersey with links to individual articles about each species with photos. See wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_snakes_of_New_Jersey

Timber rattlesnake Photo by Kris Schantz via state.nj.us/dep/

Northern copperhead Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen, one of two venomous snakes found in New Jersey
Photo: Public Domain