Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

I live in Indiana. What kinds of venomous (poisonous) snakes do I have around me, and how can I identify them?

Four species of venomous snake are considered "native" to Indiana and vicinity. You can use the following links to find out more about them.

1. Northern Copperhead

2. Eastern Massasauga

3. Timber Rattlesnake

4. Western Cottonmouth

Because there are so few venomous snakes in Indiana, we can impose some simple rules to help you to identify them. These rules will not work outside of this state or with exotic species.The pupils of our venomous snakes are vertical slits rather than round. Indiana's venomous snakes are all very heavy-bodied: they look "fat." They also have broad, spade-shaped heads that are distinctly wider than their narrow necks. The heads of nonvenomous snakes are typically about the same width as their bodies. Such distinctions are not completely reliable, as some species such as water snakes can be rather stout, and many species of snakes will flatten their heads when bluffing, giving the head a spade-like shape as well.