State field guide · Data updated October 2026
Snakes in Oklahoma
Quick answer
Oklahoma has 46 to 49 snake species, depending on the source, and 7 of them are venomous: the copperhead, the cottonmouth and five rattlesnakes (timber, western diamondback, prairie, western massasauga and western pygmy). The large majority of Oklahoma snakes are harmless.
- Species
- 46–49
- Venomous
- 7
- Rattlesnakes
- 5
01 — Venomous species first
The 7 venomous snakes of Oklahoma
All seven are pit vipers, with a heat-sensing pit between eye and nostril and vertical pupils. Most are fairly docile and bite only when provoked; many copperhead bites happen while people move brush or debris in yards.
Eastern half of the state, in rocky, wooded and leaf-littered places, and around homes.
MISTAKEN FOR young rat snakes, eastern hognose snake, corn snake.
CottonmouthAgkistrodon piscivorusThe only venomous water snake in Oklahoma; streams, swamps and lake edges, mainly in the east and southeast.
MISTAKEN FOR northern, diamondback and plain-bellied water snakes. Copperhead vs cottonmouth.
Forested eastern half of the state, often near bluffs and rocky slopes.
MISTAKEN FOR other banded snakes in leaf litter.
Southwestern and western grasslands and brush, often near rodent burrows.
MISTAKEN FOR bullsnake (gopher snake), which has no rattle.
Prairies of western Oklahoma and the Panhandle.
MISTAKEN FOR bullsnake, western diamondback.
Grasslands, often in moist low areas, across much of the western and central state.
MISTAKEN FOR plains hognose snake, young rat snakes.
Moist woods and wetland edges in eastern Oklahoma. Small, with a faint rattle.
MISTAKEN FOR young copperheads, hognose snakes.
If someone is bitten, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department. Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222. If a pet is bitten, take it to a veterinarian right away. This page gives no first-aid or treatment instructions; see our safety disclaimer.
Many taxonomists now treat the copperheads of central Oklahoma and Texas as a separate species, the broad-banded copperhead. State extension guides still count copperheads as one species, which is why Oklahoma’s total is given as seven.
02
Snakes recorded in Oklahoma
Species are grouped by how often people report them. Abundance is our editorial estimate from state and extension field guides and varies by region. Snakes with a full profile on this site have a photo and link; the others are listed by name.
Common · 22
Pantherophis obsoletus
Often called black rat snake in Oklahoma.
Pantherophis emoryi
Pituophis catenifer
Lampropeltis holbrooki
Agkistrodon contortrix
Agkistrodon piscivorus
Uncommon · 20
Heterodon platirhinos
Agkistrodon laticinctus
Rare or local · 4
Southeastern swamps.
Southeastern wetlands.
Sandy soils in the east.
Far southwest.
03
Identify by color
Color varies with age and region, so treat these groups as a starting point. Check the head, pupils and pattern on each species profile.
Adult western rat snakes, speckled kingsnakes, eastern racers and older cottonmouths.
Copperheads (hourglass bands), timber rattlesnakes and some water snakes.
Bullsnakes, rat snakes, hognose snakes, prairie and diamondback rattlesnakes, massasaugas.
The rough green snake: slender, harmless and often in shrubs near water.
Garter and ribbon snakes and the lined snake. None of Oklahoma’s venomous snakes are striped.
Milksnakes and the scarlet snake. Oklahoma has no coral snakes.
04
By region
Oklahoma runs from Ozark and Ouachita forests in the east to shortgrass prairie in the Panhandle, and snake communities shift across that gradient.
Northeast Oklahoma (I-40 and north and east). Forested, rocky, leaf-littered hills with bluff lines: copperheads, timber rattlesnakes, ring-necked snakes and milksnakes.
McAlester, Idabel and the Red River bottoms. Wettest part of the state: cottonmouths, pygmy rattlesnakes, mud snakes and crayfish snakes.
Oklahoma City, Norman and Stillwater. Cross Timbers and mixed prairie: copperheads, rat snakes, western diamondbacks and massasaugas.
Lawton, Woodward and Guymon. Grassland and brush: western diamondback and prairie rattlesnakes, bullsnakes and plains hognose snakes.
05
Geography & climate
Oklahoma has hot summers and cold, variable winters, with rainfall decreasing from east to west. Snakes become sluggish below about 60°F (16°C), and a continued drop below about 56°F (13°C) sends them into winter dormancy. In cool months rattlesnakes stay near dens on warm, south-facing slopes; in summer they seek shade.
The state wildlife department calls September and October the most hazardous time of year, as snakes head for dens and newborn snakes disperse near buildings. Seasonal timing is similar to north Texas: see when snakes are active in Texas.
06
Prey & predators
Oklahoma snakes eat rodents, frogs, fish, insects, eggs and lizards such as the eastern collared lizard. Rat snakes and bullsnakes take many rodents around farms; kingsnakes eat other snakes, venomous ones included.
Predators include hawks, owls, coyotes, raccoons, skunks, feral cats and the Virginia opossum.
07
Invasive species
Invasive reptiles are not a major issue in Oklahoma compared with Florida. Some reptiles native here are invasive elsewhere: the U.S. Geological Survey notes that the red-eared slider, native to the eastern and central US, has been introduced into western states. Pet reptiles should never be released.
Keep reading
Sources
- Oklahoma State University Extension — Only seven species of snake found in Oklahoma are venomous
- Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service — Introduction to the snakes of Oklahoma (F-9010)
- Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation — How to avoid unwanted snake encounters
- U.S. Geological Survey — Are there invasive reptiles other than Burmese pythons?
Data updated October 2026 · How we build these pages · Data sources