Snakes of North America ©Sheri Amsel www.exploringnature.org Garter Snakes are found in southern Canada and most of the U.S. near near streams and wetlands and in wet meadows, forests, gardens, and roadsides. ey can be from 1.5’ long to as long as 4 feet (rarely). Females are much larger than males. ey have 1-3 yellow stripes that run down their bodies (sometimes the stripes can be reddish or even white). Northern Brown Snakes are found from southern Canada south to North Carolina and west to Ohio in forests and open woodlands. ey rest under rocks, rotten logs and in leaf litter. ey reach up to 13” long. eir color can vary from reddish-brown to gray or tan. A pale band usually runs down the middle of their backs with a row of dark spots on both sides of it. Cottonmouth (Water Moccasins) are found in Southeastern U.S. in wet areas and on the edges of swamps, marshes, ponds, lakes, streams, and even drainage ditches. ey rest coiled, sunning on rocks, logs, and stumps. ey are 4” long and have a triangle-shaped head that is wider than the neck. ey have very dark skin with shadowy cross bands and a thick body. Eastern Ribbon Snakes are found in southeastern Canada and eastern U.S. south to Florida and west to the Great Lakes near streams, lakes, ponds, and marshes and the forest. ey are thin and 1.5–3” long, ending in a long tin tail 1/3 of its length. ey have 3 light stripes on a dark body, each side stripe has a brown stripe below it. ere is a light patch in front of each eye. Copperheads are found throughout eastern and central U.S. in forest and suburban areas sunning on rocks and in roadways. ey have dark, wavy bands across most of the body. e tip of the tail is oﬅen green. ey can reach 40” long. Western Diamondbacks are found in Arkansas, Texas and west to Southern California in many habitats from mountains to lowlands. ey are 2.5-7” long, thick- bodied with diamond- shaped spots. e tail has wide, black rings ending in a rattle. Milk Snakes are found in northeastern U.S. south to the Appalachian Mtns and west to Iowa in grassy areas, farms, the edge of woods, open forests and rocky hillsides near water. ey are from 2-4’ long, gray to brown colored with large, spotty patterns. Yellow Rat Snakes are found in Southeastern states from North Carolina to Florida in coastal hardwood, upland forests, cypress swamps, scrub pines and human habitats. ey start out grayish turn yellow with 4 dark stripes. Adults average 5’ long.

Snakes of North America - The Exploring Nature Educational ...€¦ · Snakes of North America ©Sheri Amsel Garter Snakes are found in southern Canada and most of the U.S. near near

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Snakes of North America

©Sheri Amselwww.exploringnature.org

Garter Snakes are found in southern Canada and most of the U.S. nearnear streams and wetlands and in wet meadows, forests, gardens,and roadsides. They can be from 1.5’ long to as long as 4 feet (rarely). Females are much larger than males. They have 1-3 yellow stripes that run down their bodies (sometimes the stripes can be reddish or even white).

Northern Brown Snakes are found from southern Canada south to North Carolina and west to Ohio in forests and open woodlands. They rest under rocks, rotten logs and in leaf litter. They reach up to 13” long. Their color can vary from reddish-brown to gray or tan. A pale band usually runs down the middle of their backs with a row of dark spots on both sides of it.

Cottonmouth (Water Moccasins) are found in Southeastern U.S. in wet areas and on the edges of swamps, marshes, ponds, lakes, streams, and even drainage ditches. They rest coiled, sunning on rocks, logs, and stumps. They are 4” long and have a triangle-shaped head that is wider than the neck. They have very dark skin with shadowy cross bands and a thick body.

Eastern Ribbon Snakes are found in southeastern Canada and eastern U.S. south to Florida and west to the Great Lakes near streams, lakes, ponds, and marshes and the forest. They are thin and 1.5–3” long, ending in a long tin tail 1/3 of its length. They have 3 light stripes on a dark body, each side stripe has a brown stripe below it. There is a light patch in front of each eye.

Copperheads are found throughout eastern and central U.S. in forest and suburban areas sunning on rocks and in roadways. They have dark, wavy bands across most of the body. The tip of the tail is often green. They can reach 40” long.

Western Diamondbacks are found in Arkansas, Texas and west to Southern California in many habitats from mountains to lowlands. They are 2.5-7” long, thick- bodied with diamond-shaped spots. The tail has wide, black rings ending in a rattle.

Milk Snakes are found in northeastern U.S. south to the Appalachian Mtns and west to Iowa in grassy areas, farms, the edge of woods, open forests and rocky hillsides near water. They are from 2-4’ long, gray to brown colored with large, spotty patterns.

Yellow Rat Snakes are found in Southeastern states from North Carolina to Florida in coastal hardwood, upland forests, cypress swamps, scrub pines and human habitats. They start out grayish turn yellow with 4 dark stripes. Adults average 5’ long.