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.
Cottonmouth
- Northern Cottonmouth(Agkistrodon piscivorus)
- Florida Cottonmouth(Agkistrodon piscivorus conanti )
Timber Rattlesnake(Crotalus horridus)
Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake(Crotalus adamanteus)
Pygmy Rattlesnake
- Dusky Pygmy Rattlesnake(Sistrurus miliarius barbouri)
- Carolina Pygmy Rattlesnake(Sistrurus miliarius miliarius)
- Western Pygmy Rattlesnake(Sistrurus miliarius streckeri)
Coral Snake
- Eastern Coral Snake (Micrurus Fulvius)
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.
Eastern Copperhead snakes have reddish-tan to grayish-tan bodies. Their bodies are overlaid with hourglass-shaped dark brown markings. Their triangular heads are proportionately large. The color of their head is dark coppery brown. This is the reason they have the name “Copperhead.”
Copperheads are stout heavy-bodied snakes. Adult copperheads are 20 to 37 inches (50 to 95 cm) long.
Where Do Eastern Copperheads Live in Alabama?
Copperhead snakes live throughout Alabama. The population was 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.
Wintertime Brumation
Snakes do not tolerate the cold weather in the winter months very well. They are ectotherms, which means they can not regulate their body temperature internally. Physiologically, ectotherms cannot hibernate. Yet, they go into a state of suspended animation called brumation for up to 6 months out of the year.
Copperheads winter underneath rocks, in hollow logs, and in 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. These are stout, muscular snakes that grow up to 3 feet (.91m) long. 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.
The Northern Cottonmouth has a dark brown to black body with few markings. The inside of their mouth is white, hence the name “cottonmouth.” When threatened, they will pose with their mouth open. They have cat-like pupils, which appear as narrow slits in the day, and at night, they have a round appearance.
The juvenile cottonmouth has a more clearly defined pattern than adults. Their patterning resembles that of a copperhead. They have darker bands, though, that widen toward the belly and narrow at the back.
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 that grows 30 to 48 inches (76 to 122 cm) long. Larger individuals may exceed 72 inches (183cm) in total length.
The Florida Cottonmouth has a dark brown to black body with 10 to 17 dark bands. They also have a black stripe on each cheek. The color of these snakes often darkens with age to the point that any markings are obscure or absent on adults. The inside of their mouth is pale pink to white. They tend to strike an open-mouthed defensive pose. This displays the white insides of their mouths, hence the name “cottonmouth.”
Florida cottonmouths have two dark bands that run vertically on the tip of their snout. These are not present in Northern cottonmouths. They have cat-like elliptical pupils, which appear as narrow slits in the day. In the night, though, they have a round appearance.
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.
The average Timber Rattlesnake grows between 36 to 60 inches (.91 to 1.52m) long. However, there have been reports of them growing up to 7 feet (2.13m) long. See
These snakes vary in color. Their general base coloration is a yellowish-brown to grey-brown, though. They have a dark brown to black chevron pattern on their back and sides against a lighter base color. Moreover, they have a rusty to reddish stripe down their backs. Their tails are dark brown or black. There are also melanistic timber rattlers. These are dark and sometimes almost entirely black. In the dark color morph of these snakes, the tail is also darker than the rest of the snake’s body.
What Do Timber Rattlesnakes Eat?
Timber rattlers prey on small mammals such as mice, rats, squirrels, and chipmunks. They also eat small birds, other reptiles, and amphibians.
These snakes are excellent climbers. In fact, timber rattlers have been found in trees at heights of more than 80 feet. Source
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
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. These snakes average anywhere between 3 to 6 feet (.91 to 1.83m) long. Amazingly, though, the largest eastern diamondbacks reach 8 feet in length. In weight, they average anywhere between 5 to 10 pounds (2.27 to 4.54 kg).
Their base coloring varies between brownish-yellow, brownish-gray, or olive green. A brownish-black diamond-shaped pattern runs down their backs. Each of these diamond-shaped blotches is lined with a row of cream-colored scales. Towards the end of the snake next to the tail, these blotches turn into crossbands. Their bellies are a cream color with dark mottling along the sides.
A black band extends from behind each of the snake’s eyes and down towards the mouth. The band is outlined with white bands on either side.
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. It grows between 14 to 30 inches long (36 to 76 cm), with an average length of 21.1 inches (54cm). Their body is light gray with a rust-colored vertical stripe, which may be absent in some Pigmies. They have a series of dark-colored blotches along their top and sides. Their cream-colored belly is frequently mottled. They have a distinct, dark stripe that leads from the corner of their mouth to their eye. Their small rattle produces a faint, grasshopper-like buzz. This 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. They grow in length between 16 and 25 inches (41 to 64cm). Their body is light gray with a rust-colored vertical stripe, which may be absent in some Pygmys. They have a series of dark-colored blotches along their top and sides. Their cream-colored bellies are frequently mottled. They have a distinct, dark stripe that leads from the corner of their mouth to their eye. Their tiny rattle emits a faint buzz like a grasshopper’s. You can only hear it 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. It grows in length between 16 to 25 inches (.41 to .64m). The base color of their body is light gray. Furthermore, they have a rust-colored stripe along their spine. (The stripe may be absent in some individuals.) They also have a series of dark-colored blotches along their top and sides. Their cream-colored bellies are frequently mottled. They have a distinct, dark stripe that leads from the corner of their mouth to their eye. They have a tiny rattle that makes a faint grasshopper-like buzz that can only be heard about a yard 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)
The Eastern Coral Snake can grow up to 4 feet long(122 cm), but most grow to 2 feet (61 cm). They are sexually dimorphic, with the males being slightly smaller than the females. They have rounded heads and noses with similar-looking tails. Consequently, it is sometimes hard to tell a coral snake’s head from its tail.
Coral snakes are brightly colored, highly venomous snakes. They have black, light yellow, and red bands, with the yellow bands separating the red and black.
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.
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