Arkansas' Nonpoisonous Snakes

Natricidae Snakes

• The Natricidae snake family includes garter snakes and water snakes. These snakes are harmless, and what makes them unique is that they give birth to live young instead of laying eggs as most snakes do. Some of the most common Natricidae snakes that are widespread throughout the state of Arkansas include the plain-bellied watersnake, the broad-banded watersnake, the northern diamond-backed watersnake, the midland watersnake, the midland brownsnake, the red-bellied snake and the eastern garter snake. Netricidae snakes such as the queensnake and the gulf crayfish snake have smaller populations and are only found in central Arkansas.

Rear-Fanged Snakes

• Rear-fanged snakes are venomous, but only mildly so. They are not considered dangerous to humans and do not require any antivenin, nor is any made for their bites. However, it is possible for someone to have a dangerous allergic reaction to a rear-fanged snake bite. Some of the rear-fanged snakes in Arkansas include wormsnakes, the eastern hognose snake, the ring-necked snake and the western mudsnake.

Colubrids

• Colubrids are the most common snake species found in Arkansas. Colubrids are usually slender and small, and they lay eggs. Some of the colubrid species that are native to Arkansas include racers, kingsnakes, milksnakes, coachwhips, ratsnakes, the northern rough greensnake and the flat-headed snake. The variable groundsnake is native to Arkansas but only in very sparse populations around the state's northern and western border.

Rare Snakes

• There are several species of colubrid snakes that are thought to have very small populations in Arkansas, or of which there have been sightings in Arkansas. These snakes are found near the very eastern, southern and western borders of the state, and include the black kingsnake, bull snake, gray ratsnake, lined snake, northern pine snake, red cornsnake and scarlet kingsnake.