New Jersey's Two Venomous Snakes

We have only two venomous snakes in New Jersey, but there are four snakes on our endangered or threatened species list.

Of 22 species found in New Jersey, only the timber rattlesnake and the northern copperhead are venomous. Both the copperhead and rattlesnake are reclusive and shy, but each will defend itself if threatened. In reality, though, you have a greater chance of being struck by lightning than of ever being bitten by one of these snakes.

Because snakes had a bad reputation and are so easily by the public, it's a good idea to familiarize yourself with the ones that can be dangerous and the ones that are not and are an important part of the ecosystem. This site at usasnakes.com/snakes-in-new-jersey/ has photos of both types.

NJ REPTILES
Endangered		Threatened
Rattlesnake, timber	Crotalus h. horridus	Snake, northern pine	Pituophis m. melanoleucus
Snake, corn	Elaphe g. guttata
Snake, queen	Regina septemvittata

Northern copperhead       Photo: Mike Muller via state.nj.us/dep/

Copperheads are social snakes and often hibernate in communal dens with other copperheads or other species of snakes including timber rattlesnakes and black rat snakes.

Adult copperheads eat mostly mice but will also eat small birds, lizards, small snakes, amphibians and insects, especially cicadas.

Copperheads have fangs that inject prey with a hemolytic venom that subdues its prey by causing the breakdown of red blood cells, making it easy for the snake to swallow. The copperhead seeks out its prey using its heat-sensitive pits to detect objects that are warmer than its environment. This also enables them to find nocturnal mammalian prey.

A copperhead, one of New Jersey’s least common snakes, is frequently confused with the northern water snake and the eastern milk snake, among the state's most common species. Copperheads have a dark-colored pattern that forms hourglass-shaped bands from side to side, but coloration is highly variable among individuals and changes according to seasonal shedding periods.

You should never approach this snake, or try to handle it, or disturb it. Copperheads and other snakes help to control rodent populations in its environment."

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

The timber rattlesnake inhabits three distinct areas – the Kittatinny Ridge and the northernmost portion of the Highlands as well as the sprawling Pine Barrens of southern New Jersey. The copperhead is limited to hilly, forested regions in portions of northern New Jersey and a few isolated, hilly areas of Hunterdon and Somerset counties.

While the rattlesnake has its rattle to distinguish it from other snakes, many other snakes mimic the rattlesnake by shaking their tails on leaves, twigs and other objects. A rattlesnake has jagged and dark bands extending from side to side around the center and back end of the snake.

The snake below may look dangerous but it is a non-venomous milk snake Lampropeltis Triangulum. Because it has color variations, it can be confused with some venomous snakes.

Know your Jersey snakes! 

For more information, see  state.nj.us/dep/daw/snakes/

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

Snakes On the Move

Timber rattlesnake Photo by Kris Schantz

Snakes in New Jersey are at the end of their mating seasons and on the move within their territories. That means you are more likely to see one.

Snakes are quite misunderstood, largely because the majority of people are not able to identify species and don't know which ones are dangerous and which are harmless to humans and beneficial to the ecosystem.

As I have written before, New Jersey only has two venomous snakes: the Eastern timber rattlesnake and the Northern copperhead.

Firefighters in Knowlton (northwest NJ) posted on Facebook about one timber rattlesnake that was probably moving down from the mountains near the Delaware Water Gap to lower areas and was found in a backyard garden compost pile. (It has been relocated.)

Timber rattlesnakes are found in New Jersey typically around the Kittatinny Ridge north of the Water Gap, the northern Highlands area and in the Pine Barrens and typically found in densely wooded and rocky forests.

Timber rattlesnakes (Crotalus horridus) are an endangered species in New Jersey and it is illegal to kill them. If you encounter one on your property, you can call the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife. In New Jersey, call the Department of Environmental Protection at 877-WARN DEP (877-927-6337). They have a specialized team of experts and trained volunteers who will relocate the snake.

Timber rattlesnake rely on its camouflage to stay out of sight, and generally will not attack. But, as with many animals, if provoked - and that may be unintentional, such as stepping unaware on or near one - they can strike. Stay 10 feet away from the snake.

In comparison, a Northern copperhead Photo by Mike Muller  

Pennsylvania has a third poisonous snake, the endangered Eastern massasauga, which only lives in the northwestern part of the state. The timber rattlesnake is not protected in Pennsylvania.

More information about snakes in NJ
printable brochure www.njfishandwildlife.com/ensp/pdf/snake_broch14.pdf
http://www.state.nj.us/dep/daw/snakes/ 

Responding to New Jersey's Snakes

Timber rattlesnake Photo by Kris Schantz

The NJ DEP's Snake Response Team, coordinated by the Division of Fish and Wildlife's Endangered and Nongame Species Program, helps people when venomous snakes get a little too close for comfort. It also works to dispel fears about the reptiles, using facts, tact and understanding.

Of 22 species found in New Jersey, only the timber rattlesnake and the northern copperhead are venomous – and each of these species is generally shy.

Under the state's Endangered and Nongame Species Conservation Act, it is illegal to kill, harm, harass or collect them or any native, non-game wildlife.

On the NJ Endangered and Threatened list are 4 snakes: the timber rattlesnake, Crotalus h. horridus, the northern pine snake Pituophis m. melanoleucus and the corn snake Elaphe g. guttata and the queen snake Regina septemvittata.

In relocating a venomous snake, the Response Team will look for suitable habitat in the same general area that won't harm the snake or create a conflict with another property owner.

Snakes see us as the predator,and their first choice is to try to lay still and blend in with their surroundings or, if feeling threatened, to try to get away.

Snakes fill an important ecological role, controlling rodents and insects and serving as a food source for raccoons, bobcats, hawks, owls and other animals. In short, snakes are indicators of a healthy, vibrant ecosystem.

Yet each year many are intentionally killed by people who don’t understand them.

Northern copperhead Photo by Mike Muller

The copperhead, one of New Jersey’s least common snakes, is frequently confused with the northern water snake and the eastern milk snake, among the most common species.

Copperheads have a dark-colored pattern that forms hourglass-shaped bands from side to side, but coloration is highly variable among individuals and changes according to seasonal shedding periods.

More Information at  http://www.state.nj.us/dep/daw/snakes/



Timber Rattlesnakes in Vermont & New York: Biology, History, and the Fate of an Endangered Species