Alabama's 9 Venomous Snakes: Identification, Habitat & Safety Tips

The State of Alabama is home to 9 different types of venomous snakes. Five of these snakes are rattlesnakes, while two of them are cottonmouths. One copperhead and one coral snake are also included in the state’s list of venomous snakes.

We’ll talk about each of these dangerous snakes in the paragraphs below. We’ll include their appearance, behavior, and where they live in Alabama.

Copperhead Snakes in Alabama

Copperhead snakes are some of the most common venomous snakes in the United States. They’re also the most common venomous snake in Alabama. They’re also responsible for the majority of the snakebites in the state.

Eastern Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix)

The Eastern Copperhead is a pit viper native to the eastern United States.

What Do Timber Rattlesnakes Look Like?

Coloration:

Reddish-tan to grayish-tan bodies.
Overlaid with dark brown, hourglass-shaped markings.
Heads are dark coppery brown, giving them the name “Copperhead.”

Body Shape:

Stout and heavy-bodied snakes.

Size:

Adults range from 20 to 37 inches (50 to 95 cm) in length.

Head Features:

Triangular, proportionately large heads.

Where Do Eastern Copperheads Live in Alabama?

Copperhead snakes live throughout Alabama. Copperheads in Alabama were formerly divided into the Northern Copperhead and Southern Copperhead subspecies. However, DNA analysis shows little genetic difference between the two. Today the former Northern Copperhead, Southern Copperhead, and Osage Copperhead are taxonomically combined. The common name for these snakes is Eastern Copperhead. Their scientific name is Agkistrodon contortrix. Source

Eastern Copperhead Behavior

Copperheads are dangerous because they use camouflage as their number one defense mechanism. In other words, these snakes choose to lie perfectly still rather than flee most of the time. Their camouflage helps them blend in with leaf litter and other ground debris.

When they feel threatened, they occasionally mimic the tail vibration of a rattlesnake. But, in most cases, they choose to lie perfectly still.

Most copperhead bites on humans occur when the person steps on or near the snake.

How Alabama’s Copperhead Snakes Survive the Winter: Understanding Brumation

Snakes, including copperheads, do not tolerate the cold weather very well in the winter months. They are ectotherms, which means they can not regulate their body temperature internally. Instead of hibernating like mammals, snakes enter a state of dormancy called brumation for up to 6 months out of the year.

Copperheads winter underneath rocks, in hollow logs, and fissures on rocky hillsides. An individual might brumate alone in some parts of their range. But copperheads tend to be social. In some areas, they congregate together in dens with other snakes through the winter.

In hilly terrain, south-facing slopes capture more radiant warmth from the sun. So, that is where these dens are generally located. The other snakes they den with are not necessarily just copperheads. Sometimes, they share their dens with other species of snakes. You may find a Timber Rattler, a Black Rat Snake, or an Eastern Black Racer sharing the same den with copperheads. These wintertime dens may hold up to 60 snakes.

What Do Copperheads Eat?

Copperhead snakes are opportunistic feeders. They eat insects, spiders, frogs, small rodents, birds, and other reptiles.

How Dangerous Are Copperheads?

A Copperhead has the ability to bite and inject venom from the time they are newly born. Like most pit vipers, they have hemotoxic venom.

Most copperhead bites are not life-threatening. On the other hand, any bite from this snake is a medical emergency and should be treated as such. Prompt medical attention increases the chance of a good outcome.

Copperhead bites can cause intense pain, shock, and swelling. Their bites also have the potential to cause blood in urine, tissue damage, and kidney failure.

An interesting study has found that Copperhead venom contains a protein called contortrostatin. Contortrostatin has been found to stop the growth of cancer cells in mice.

Cottonmouth Snakes of Alabama

Northern Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus)

Another common name for the Northern Cottonmouth is water moccasin. They look a little bit like rattlesnakes without the rattle on the tail. People also sometimes mistake them for common water snakes. This could be a dangerous mistake.

What Do Northern Cottonmouths Look Like?

Size and Build:

Stout, muscular snakes.
Grow up to 3 feet (0.91 m) in length.

Coloration:

Adults: Dark brown to black body with minimal markings.
Inside of the mouth: White, giving them the name “cottonmouth.”
Juveniles: More defined patterns, resembling a copperhead with darker bands that widen toward the belly and narrow along the back.

Eye Features:

Cat-like elliptical pupils that appear as narrow slits during the day.
Pupils become round at night.

Defensive Behavior:

Display an open-mouthed pose when threatened, showcasing their white-mouth interior.

Where Do Northern Cottonmouths Live?

Northern Cottonmouths range throughout much of Alabama. They are semi-aquatic snakes. They usually hang out near swamps, drainage ditches, slow-moving rivers, and lakes. Interestingly, they can hold their breath underwater for up to an hour while hunting for prey. They commonly sun themselves on rocks or logs at the water’s edge. Cottonmouths sometimes venture overland. It’s not unheard of to see one far from any aquatic environment. See

The cottonmouth population in Alabama formerly contained Eastern Cottonmouths and Western Cottonmouths. But, DNA analysis shows little genetic difference between the two. Today, the former Eastern Cottonmouth and Western Cottonmouth are taxonomically combined. The common name for these snakes is Northern Cottonmouth. Their scientific name is Agkistrodon piscivorus. Source Source

What Do Northern Cottonmouths Eat?

These snakes prey on fish, freshwater crustaceans, amphibians, small mammals, and other reptiles. Cottonmouths sometimes congregate around drying wetland pools to feed on any trapped fish.

How Dangerous Are Northern Cottonmouths?

Northern Cottonmouth venom is cytotoxic. This means it destroys body tissue. Northern Cottonmouth bites sometimes lead to the amputation of limbs. On rare occasions, death can occur. See

Florida Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon conanti)

The Florida Cottonmouth is a stout, muscular snake.

What Do Florida Cottonmouths Look Like?

Size:

Average length: 30 to 48 inches (76 to 122 cm).
Larger individuals: May exceed 72 inches (183 cm).

Coloration:

Body: Dark brown to black with 10 to 17 dark bands.
Cheek: Black stripe on each cheek.
Aging: Older snakes may darken to the point where markings are obscure or absent.
Mouth: Inside is pale pink to white, visible during their defensive open-mouthed pose (origin of the name “cottonmouth”).

Distinctive Features:

Two dark bands run vertically on the tip of the snout (not present in Northern cottonmouths).
Eyes:
- Pupils are cat-like and elliptical, appearing as narrow slits during the day.
- At night, pupils appear round.

Where Do Florida Cottonmouths Live in Alabama?

These snakes are found in southeastern Alabama. They spend most of their time near swamps, marshes, rivers, and lakes. But they are not completely dependent on water. Sometimes, they are seen as far as one mile from any surface water. They can hold their breath underwater for up to an hour while hunting for prey.

How Dangerous Are Florida Cottonmouths?

Florida cottonmouth snakes have strong hemolytic venom. Hemolytic venom destroys red blood cells. The venom from these snakes has the potential to cause extensive necrosis. It is also more lethal than the venom of Northern Cottonmouths. The mortality rate is up to 17%. Source

Rattlesnakes of Alabama

Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus)

Timber Rattler and Canebrake Rattlesnake are both common names for the Timber Rattlesnake. Generally, in higher-elevation habitats, they are called Timber Rattlesnakes. On the coastal plain, though, they’re called Canebrake Rattlesnakes.

What Do Timber Rattlesnakes Look Like?

Size:

Average length: 36 to 60 inches (0.91 to 1.52 m).
Rare cases reported: Up to 7 feet (2.13 m). See

Coloration:

General base color: Yellowish-brown to grey-brown.
Chevron pattern: Dark brown to black chevrons on their back and sides against a lighter base color.
Back stripe: Rusty to reddish stripe running down their back.
Tail color: Dark brown or black.

Melanistic Variation:

Some timber rattlesnakes exhibit a dark, melanistic color morph.
These snakes can appear almost entirely black.
The tail is darker than the rest of the body in this morph.

What Do Timber Rattlesnakes Eat?

Timber rattlers prey on:

Small mammals such as mice, rats, squirrels, and chipmunks
Small birds
Other reptiles and amphibians.

The experts have proven that timber rattlesnakes help control Lyme disease. This is because as they consume rodents, they’re also consuming ticks. A timber rattler will consume 2,500 to 4,500 ticks per year, depending on the location. See

These snakes are excellent climbers. In fact, timber rattlers have been found in trees at heights of more than 80 feet. Source

Wintertime Brumation

As we discussed in the section on copperheads, snakes brumate in the winter. Brumation is a reptile’s version of hibernation.

Timber Rattlesnakes make wintertime dens in sheltered spots. They den underneath rocks and logs, as well as in fissures in rocky hillsides. An individual Timber Rattler might brumate alone in some parts of their range. But in other areas, they congregate in dens with other snakes through the winter.

Dens are usually placed on slopes facing south because they get more warmth from the sun. They don’t always share their dens only with Timber Rattlers. Sometimes, they share their dens with other species of snakes. These might include Copperheads, Black Rat Snakes, and Eastern Black Racers. These wintertime dens may hold up to 60 snakes.

How Dangerous Are Timber Rattlesnakes?

Timber Rattlesnakes are among the most dangerous in the United States. This is due to their long fangs and high venom yield. 1% to 10% of untreated Timber Rattlesnake bites result in a fatality.

Fortunately, 40% to 60% of the time, they produce dry bites. In other words, although their fangs penetrate the body, they do not inject any venom. Source

These snakes produce hemotoxic venom. Timber Rattlesnake bites sometimes cause serious complications. These include shock, seizures, coma, internal bleeding, and deep tissue damage. Source

Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus)

The Eastern Diamondback rattlesnake is the largest venomous snake in the United States.

What Do Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnakes Look Like?

Size:

Average length: 3 to 6 feet (0.91 to 1.83 m).
Record length: Up to 8 feet.
Average weight: 5 to 10 pounds (2.27 to 4.54 kg).

Coloration:

Base colors: Brownish-yellow, brownish-gray, or olive green.
Back: Brownish-black diamond-shaped pattern lined with cream-colored scales.
Tail: Diamond blotches transition into crossbands near the tail.
Belly: Cream-colored with dark mottling along the sides.

Distinctive Markings:

The black band is outlined with white bands on either side.
A black band runs from behind each eye down towards the mouth.

Where Do Eastern Diamondbacks Live in Alabama?

The Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake lives in extreme southern Alabama.

They prefer coastal forests, scrublands, and pine and wiregrass flatwoods. They can be found in moist areas such as wet prairies and savannas and around wetland borders. These snakes are proficient swimmers. It’s not uncommon for them to swim between barrier reefs and along swamp edges. Source

Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake Behavior

Eastern Diamondbacks shelter in gopher, tortoise, and armadillo burrows. They emerge early in the morning or afternoon to bask in the sun. Occasionally, these snakes climb into bushes and trees, hunting for prey. Some have been spotted as high as 33 feet off the ground. Source

How Dangerous Are Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnakes?

Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnakes have powerful hemotoxic venom. In fact, they kill more people than any other venomous snake in the United States. Source

Eastern Diamondback bites cause severe pain, edema, headache, nausea, dizziness, and convulsions. Their hemotoxic venom impairs blood coagulation. This may lead to severe internal bleeding, which may lead to kidney damage. Source.

Dusky Pygmy Rattlesnake (Sistrurus miliarius barbouri)

The Dusky Pygmy Rattlesnake is a small, slender-tailed snake with a tiny rattle.

What Do Dusky Pygmy Rattlesnake Look Like?

Size:

Small, slender-tailed snake with a tiny rattle.
Length: 14 to 30 inches (36 to 76 cm).
Average length: 21.1 inches (54 cm).

Coloration and Markings:

Body: Dark gray with a series of dark-colored blotches along the top and sides.
Stripe: Rust-colored vertical stripe on the back (may be absent in some individuals).
Belly: Cream-colored, often mottled.
Face: Distinct dark stripe from the corner of the mouth to the eye.

Rattle and Sound:

Tiny rattle produces a faint, grasshopper-like buzz.
Sound can only be heard from a few feet away.

Where Do Dusky Pygmy Rattlesnake Live in Alabama?

Dusky Pigmy Rattlesnakes live on Alabama’s Lower Coastal Plain. They prefer sandy pinelands and scrub regions near bodies of water. Pygmy rattlesnakes are rarely found in extremely dry habitats. Source.

These snakes also have other common names. A couple of them are Barbour’s Pygmy Rattlesnakes and Florida Ground Rattlesnakes.

How Dangerous Are Dusky Pygmy Rattlesnakes?

Dusky Pygmy rattlesnakes have cytotoxic venom. By definition, cytotoxic venom destroys the body’s cells. It contains digestive enzymes that disrupt blood flow and prevent blood from clotting. Luckily, these snakes produce a small venom yield. Dusky Pygmy Rattlesnake bites are painful. But there has never been a human fatality caused by one. But any pygmy rattlesnake bite victim should still receive prompt medical attention.

Carolina Pygmy Rattlesnake (Sistrurus miliarius miliarius)

The Carolina Pygmy Rattlesnake is a small, slender-tailed snake with a tiny rattle.

What Do Carolina Pygmy Rattlesnake Look Like?

Size:

Small, slender-tailed snake with a tiny rattle.
Length: 16 to 25 inches (41 to 64 cm).
Average length: 21.1 inches (54 cm).

Coloration and Markings:

Body: Light gray to reddish above, with dark-colored blotches along the top and sides.
Stripe: Rust-colored vertical stripe on the back (may be absent in some individuals).
Belly: Cream-colored, often mottled.
Face: Distinct dark stripe from the corner of the mouth to the eye.

Rattle and Sound:

A tiny rattle produces a faint, grasshopper-like buzz.
Sound can only be heard from a few feet away.

Where Do Carolina Pygmy Rattlesnakes Live in Alabama?

Carolina pigmy rattlesnakes live in the northern one-third of Alabama. Their range also extends southward to Lee County. They favor sandhills, mixed forests, floodplains, marshes, and borders of cypress ponds. These snakes are rarely found in extremely dry habitats. Source

This snake has some other common names. They are Pygmy Rattlesnake, Ground Rattlesnake, and Hog-nosed rattlesnake.

How Dangerous Are Carolina Pygmy Rattlesnakes?

Carolina Pygmy rattlesnakes have cytotoxic venom. By definition, cytotoxic venom destroys the body’s cells. Luckily, these snakes produce a small venom yield. A Pygmy Rattlesnake bite is unlikely to be fatal. But any bite victim should still receive prompt medical attention.

Western Pygmy Rattlesnake (Sistrurus miliarius streckeri)

The Western Pygmy Rattlesnake is a small, slender-tailed snake with a tiny rattle.

What Do Western Pygmy Rattlesnake Look Like?

Size:

Small, slender-tailed snake with a tiny rattle.
Length: 16 to 25 inches (41 to 64 cm).
Average length: 21.1 inches (54 cm).

Coloration and Markings:

Body: Light grayish brown with dark-colored blotches that form crossbars along the top and sides.
Stripe: Rust-colored vertical stripe on the back (may be absent in some individuals).
Belly: Cream-colored, often mottled.
Face: Distinct dark stripe from the corner of the mouth to the eye.

Rattle and Sound:

A tiny rattle produces a faint, grasshopper-like buzz.
Sound can only be heard from a few feet away.

Where Do Western Pygmy Rattlesnakes Live in Alabama?

This species inhabits west central Alabama. They prefer sandhills, mixed forests, and floodplains in the vicinity of aquatic environments. They are rarely found in extremely dry habitats. Source

Other common names for this snake are ground rattlesnake and pygmy rattlesnake.

How Dangerous Are Western Pygmy Rattlesnakes?

Western Pygmy rattlesnakes have cytotoxic venom. By definition, cytotoxic venom destroys the body’s cells. This venom disrupts blood flow and prevents clotting with its digestive enzymes. Luckily, these snakes produce a small venom yield. A bite from a pygmy rattlesnake is unlikely to be fatal. However, any bite victim should still receive prompt medical attention.

Coral Snake of Alabama

Eastern Coral Snake (Harlequin Coral)

What Do Eastern Coral Snakes Look Like?

Size:

It can grow up to 4 feet (122 cm), but most are around 2 feet (61 cm).
Sexually dimorphic: Males are slightly smaller than females.

Physical Features:

Rounded heads and noses, with tails that resemble the head.
This similarity can make it hard to distinguish the head from the tail.

Coloration:

Brightly colored, highly venomous snake.
Bands of black, light yellow, and red.
Yellow bands separate the red and black bands.

Where Do Eastern Coral Snakes Live in Alabama?

The Eastern Coral snake lives in southern Alabama. The places they live in range from dry, open, bushy areas to hardwood forests and pine flatwoods.

Batesian Mimicry Of Coral Snakes

Batesian mimicry is a biological term. It describes how a harmless species protects itself by resembling a dangerous one. For example, the scarlet king snake and the eastern milk snake are nonvenomous snakes. However, their color patterns closely resemble the venomous coral snake. The difference is that a coral snake’s red and yellow bands touch. On the other hand, the nonvenomous species’ color patterns are red, black, and yellow. Also, a coral snake’s head is blunt and entirely black, even behind its eyes, while a Kingsnake’s head is red.

This rhyme helps people distinguish between a nonvenomous species and a coral snake. “Red and yellow can kill a fellow; Red touch black, a friend of Jack.”

The rhyme is mostly accurate in the United States. However, coral snakes from areas south of the U. S. do not always follow the black-yellow-red pattern. This is also true in Central America, South America, and the Caribbean.

Finally, there are rare coral snakes that do not follow the usual color pattern in the United States. Pink, cream-colored, light blue and completely black coral snakes exist in the wild.

How dangerous are coral snakes?

Coral snakes are highly venomous snakes. In fact, herpetologists regard them as the most venomous snake in the United States. Fortunately, they almost never bite.

Coral snake venom is a neurotoxin and is the second strongest of any snake. The experts consider coral snakes to be less dangerous than rattlesnakes, though. Their smaller mouths and short fangs produce less venom. Thus, they have a less effective venom delivery system.

People should take coral snake bites seriously, though. Before we had antivenom, the death rate after coral snake envenomation was around 10%. See

Potential effects of coral snake envenomation include,

muscle weakness
difficulty speaking
difficulty swallowing
difficulty breathing
Inability to move eyelids
blurred vision
twitching of the tongue
paralysis
respiratory arrest

There has been one reported death caused by an Eastern Coral Snake bite in the last 40 years. Source

Symptoms of Venomous Snake Bites

Some of the symptoms you may experience when a venomous snake bites you include:

Discoloration in the area of the bite.
Swelling in the area of the bite.
Loss of muscle coordination.
Tingling sensation in the area of the bite.
Feeling nauseous.
Having a faster heartbeat or rapid pulse.

What Should You Do if You Are Bitten?

If you or someone you are with has suffered a venomous snakebite, time is of the essence. Because the sooner a victim receives antivenom, the less chance the venom in their body has to cause harm. In other words, it is important to seek immediate medical help.

Do not attempt to kill the snake for identification purposes. This gives the snake a chance to bite you again. Also, consider that severed snakeheads can still bite and envenomate and often do. If you have a phone, take a picture of the offending reptile. Otherwise, get started on your way to the doctor.

First Aid for Snake Bite Victims

Remain calm and limit your movements. Do not run. If you must hike back to a vehicle, do it calmly and deliberately. Put as little stress on your heart as possible.
Keep the area of the snake bite below the heart level and never above the heart level. Keeping the bite below the heart level will reduce the venom’s flow. However, holding the bite above your heart level will increase the venom’s flow.

Remove all constricting items such as bracelets, watches, or rings before swelling occurs.
Remember that using a cold compress on a venomous snake bite is not advisable. The cold may cause the local blood vessels to constrict and spread the venom faster.
You can wash the affected area like any other wound with soap and water.
You may cover the bite area with a moist dressing to reduce the swelling.

Get medical attention as soon as possible. Call the hospital to tell them a venomous snake has bitten you. So they can have antivenom ready to give you as soon as you arrive.
A person whom a venomous snake has bitten may go into shock. If this happens, lay them flat and cover them with a blanket.

Dressing for Snake Country

High-top leather boots and long pants are both wise ideas.
Also, wear loose-fitting denim. If there’s a gap before the snake’s fangs touch your skin, your chances of being envenomated are lower.
In the absence of high-top leather boots, some people wear snake gaiters.