Black Snakes in Alabama

Venomous Black Snakes

• The cottonmouth is one of six venomous snakes in Alabama, and the only one that can appear to be black. Normally it has a brownish-green color with dark greyish brown bands as a young snake, but more mature cottonmouth snakes will have a muddled, darker coloration and can appear solid black. While venomous, cottonmouth bites are not usually fatal if treated immediately. According to the Alabama Cooperative Extension, only one person dies from a venomous snake bite per decade in Alabama.

Threatened Species

• Several black snake species are high conservation concerns according to the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. These snakes are already listed as threatened or are considered candidates for the status in the Alabama. They include the the speckled king snake, which is rare in Alabama; the black pine snake and the queen snake.

Other Black Snakes

• There are other species of black snakes in Alabama that are common and nonvenomous. The black swamp snake is mainly black, but with a bright orange belly. The southern ringnecked snake looks similar to the swamp snake except with a yellow belly and distinctive orange to white ring around its neck. The black rat snake has white speckles and is common in the southeastern United States, including all of Alabama. The eastern mud snake is common in Alabama, and is all black with pinkish bands on its side, close to its belly.

Eastern Indigo

• The eastern indigo is one of the most endangered and rare black snake species in all of Alabama. The eastern indigo is solid black all over, including its eyes and belly. Sightings of the snake are few and far between. It is estimated to have few, if any sustainable populations left in the state of Alabama.