Common Snakes in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania is a state that is known for its historical contributions. Aside from the Congress Hall and the Liberty Bell, you may also find 21 snakes in this state. Knowing how to identify these snakes will be essential for anyone who is planning to visit the state especially if they want to enjoy the great outdoors. This is because 3 out of the 21 snakes in this state are poisonous.



Venomous and Non-Venomous Allentown Snakes in Pennsylvania
By observing some of the features of the snakes in Pennsylvania, you will be able to tell if they are venomous or not. In this article, we will discuss some of the most common venomous and non-venomous snake that you may encounter in Pennsylvania.

Venomous Snakes
As aforementioned, there are three types of venomous Allentown snakes that are found in Pennsylvania. When encountering a venomous snake, it is best to keep away from them. While there are snakes that will not hesitate to defend themselves, there are also those that will choose to flee if you give them enough room and time to escape. Here are some of the most common venomous snakes in Pennsylvania.

Northern Copperhead- The northern copperhead can be found in the rocky areas and forests. It is a medium snake that can grow to up to 3ft. It has a triangular-shaped head and a pointed snout. They will have a copper-like body that comes with a brown band. It is recommended to exercise extreme caution when you encounter a copperhead.

Timber Rattlesnake- With the distinctive rattling sound, the rattlesnake is probably the most popular venomous snake. There are around 32 types of rattlesnakes but only the timber rattlesnake can be found in Pennsylvania. Just like the other rattlesnake, the canebrake can utilize their tail to rattle. Apart from its rattle, you can also identify them from their light gray shade that highlights brown blotches. They can grow at 3-5ft in length once they reach their maturity.

Eastern Massasauga- This snake has a brownish-gray shade that comes with dark and round splotches. It also features a dark mark that extends from its eyes to the rear of its jaw. Newly born Eastern Massasauga is around 9 inches long and may grow to around 40 inches.

Non-Venomous Snake
Non-venomous snakes are beneficial. They eat insects and rodents that destroy our property. However, they may still bite so you still need to be careful when dealing with them.

Eastern Milk snake- This snake is usually confused for the copperhead due to their similarities in coloration. However, the eastern milk snake will be paler. It is also longer compared to the copperhead. It is normal for them to reach more than 4ft.

Short-head Garter snake- they are small and will commonly be found in the northwestern section of Pennsylvania. With their unique marking, it would be easy to identify them. They have brown body that is covered with yellowish stripe.

By having the ability to determine the most commons snakes that you will encounter in Pennsylvania, you will be able to avoid killing the harmless snakes.

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