Snake species
Common gartersnake: checkered with distinct yellow stripes
Northern watersnake: thick-bodied with small oval head and strong keeled scales
Milksnake: smooth scales with reddish-brown spots outlined in black
Ring-necked snake: small with yellow ring around neck
Dekay's brownsnake: small with dark brown spots and keeled scales
North American racer: small oval head with smooth scales and a white chin
Eastern ribbonsnake: slender, distinct dark reddish brown and yellow stripes
Red-bellied snake: small with keeled scales and three light spots behind the head
Eastern hog-nosed snake: keeled scales and an upturned snout
Timber rattlesnake: thick-bodied with a large triangle head and a rattle tail
Copperhead: pinkish to orange brown with dumbbell-shaped crossbands
Eastern ratsnake: thick-bodied with keeled scales and a white chin
Eastern wormsnake: small with shiny brown smooth scales
Smooth greensnake: green with light belly
If you see a snake that is state-listed as threatened, endangered, or of special concern, we'd like to hear from you! Please share your observation on the MassWildlife Heritage Hub. Sharing requires creating an account, but you will receive confirmation and thanks from our biologists, once your observation has been reviewed and confirmed. Your reports provide critical information that informs future habitat management and wildlife conservation for future generations. For a single sighting, as an alternative to setting up a Heritage Hub account, you can also use our Rare Animal Observation Form.
To learn more about areas near you where rare species have been documented and confirmed, visit our rare species viewer.