Austin-Area
Snakes
Austin-Area Snakes : snakes found in the Greater Austin Area (Travis, Williamson, Bastrop counties).
ID Guide
Austin-Area Snakes : snakes found in the Greater Austin Area (Travis, Williamson, Bastrop counties).
Austin-Area Snakes : snakes found in the Greater Austin Area
(Travis, Williamson, Bastrop counties).
The Broad-Banded Copperhead snake gets to be 2 to 3 feet long.
The Broad-Banded Copperhead is not common to Austin but can be found in other areas like Elgin and Bastrop.
These snakes have broad bands in alternating colors of copper and light tan. The juveniles have greenish-yellow tips to their tails, which fade as they get older. These snakes feed on rodents, birds, and amphibians. Preventative measures are the same for the Copperhead as for the Diamondback Rattlesnake.
The Broad-Banded Copperhead snake gets to be 2 to 3 feet long.
The Broad-Banded Copperhead is not common to Austin but can be found in other areas like Elgin and Bastrop.
These snakes have broad bands in alternating colors of copper and light tan. The juveniles have greenish-yellow tips to their tails, which fade as they get older. These snakes feed on rodents, birds, and amphibians. Preventative measures are the same for the Copperhead as for the Diamondback Rattlesnake.
Bullsnakes are large snakes, averaging 4 to 6 feet in length when mature.
This is now the largest species of snake native to Texas. Record is 9ft, 3 inches!
They have brown blotches that are almost square, on a background of light brown to almost yellow in some cases. This snake is capable of hissing very loudly and they constrict their prey, which consists mostly of rodents and birds.
Bullsnakes are large snakes, averaging 4 to 6 feet in length when mature.
This is now the largest species of snake native to Texas. Record is 9ft, 3 inches!
They have brown blotches that are almost square, on a background of light brown to almost yellow in some cases. This snake is capable of hissing very loudly and they constrict their prey, which consists mostly of rodents and birds.
Photo by Adam Dawson
Checkered Garter Snake Males: 12-18 inches, females: up to 3 feet.
Checkered Garter Snake has a thin white or yellow stripe down the back, surrounded by a checkerboard pattern of black spots.
Not necessarily found by water because they feed readily on rodents, but will also eat fish and frogs.
Checkered Garter Snake Males: 12-18 inches, females: up to 3 feet.
Checkered Garter Snake has a thin white or yellow stripe down the back, surrounded by a checkerboard pattern of black spots.
Not necessarily found by water because they feed readily on rodents, but will also eat fish and frogs.
Diamondback Water snake adults average 4-6 feet long.
Diamondback Water snake is a NON-VENOMOUS harmless snake often confused with the venomous Western Cottonmouth because it is found close to or in the water. The snake has a greenish background with a dark diamond pattern on its back. It also has dark green squares on its side and a yellow belly and chin. The snake is common to many of the waterways and ponds in the Austin area. They feed primarily on fish and frogs. These snakes are very shy and will quickly attempt to escape if startled or approached. Water is their preferred escape route and sanctuary.
If the snake is caught, it will first emit a foul-smelling musk. If this doesn't work it will bite, but the bite isn't venomous. When sitting still or swimming slowly, the Diamondback Water snake tends to hold its head and neck level with the water line while allowing the body and tail to be submerged. When these snakes find a backyard goldfish pond, they tend to take up residence there and eat the fish if they are small enough. Larger fish or screening around the pond or at the fence line usually keeps these snakes from entering the yard.
Diamondback Water snake adults average 4-6 feet long.
Diamondback Water snake is a NON-VENOMOUS harmless snake often confused with the venomous Western Cottonmouth because it is found close to or in the water. The snake has a greenish background with a dark diamond pattern on its back. It also has dark green squares on its side and a yellow belly and chin. The snake is common to many of the waterways and ponds in the Austin area. They feed primarily on fish and frogs. These snakes are very shy and will quickly attempt to escape if startled or approached. Water is their preferred escape route and sanctuary.
If the snake is caught, it will first emit a foul-smelling musk. If this doesn't work it will bite, but the bite isn't venomous. When sitting still or swimming slowly, the Diamondback Water snake tends to hold its head and neck level with the water line while allowing the body and tail to be submerged. When these snakes find a backyard goldfish pond, they tend to take up residence there and eat the fish if they are small enough. Larger fish or screening around the pond or at the fence line usually keeps these snakes from entering the yard.
Eastern Black-Neck Garter Snake Males: 12-18 inches, females: up to 3-4 feet.
Eastern Black-Neck Garter Snake has a bright orange stripe going down the back.
Velvety-black patches on the neck.
Juveniles: background color can be yellow and green, and still have black spots and bright orange stripe. Commonly found around permanent bodies of water because they feed on fish and frogs. Also known to feed on mice.
Eastern Black-Neck Garter Snake Males: 12-18 inches, females: up to 3-4 feet.
Eastern Black-Neck Garter Snake has a bright orange stripe going down the back.
Velvety-black patches on the neck.
Juveniles: background color can be yellow and green, and still have black spots and bright orange stripe. Commonly found around permanent bodies of water because they feed on fish and frogs. Also known to feed on mice.
The male Eastern hognose snake averages around 2 feet long, females up to 4 feet.
Easily identified by its upturned snout, it is a very stout-bodied snake with brown blotches on a background that can various shades of red, grey, green, brown, yellow...
This is a very unique snake with unusual defenses. When this NON-VENOMOUS snake is first encountered, it will flare its neck and head so that it somewhat resembles a cobra's hood, and at the same time will hiss very loudly! If this doesn't scare you away, the snake may roll over on its back with its mouth open and 'play dead'. If you roll it back upright, it will flip itself back onto its back, as though insisting that it is dead! They feed almost exclusively on toads.
The male Eastern hognose snake averages around 2 feet long, females up to 4 feet.
Easily identified by its upturned snout, it is a very stout-bodied snake with brown blotches on a background that can various shades of red, grey, green, brown, yellow...
This is a very unique snake with unusual defenses. When this NON-VENOMOUS snake is first encountered, it will flare its neck and head so that it somewhat resembles a cobra's hood, and at the same time will hiss very loudly! If this doesn't scare you away, the snake may roll over on its back with its mouth open and 'play dead'. If you roll it back upright, it will flip itself back onto its back, as though insisting that it is dead! They feed almost exclusively on toads.
Eastern Yellow Belly Racer adults average 3 to 4 feet in length.
Adults are olive to light green on top with a yellow belly. Juveniles are blotched patterned with a brown or gray background. They feed on reptiles and sometimes rodents and birds. When they are in the tall grass, they tend to hold their head high up above the grass for observation.
Eastern Yellow Belly Racer adults average 3 to 4 feet in length.
Adults are olive to light green on top with a yellow belly. Juveniles are blotched patterned with a brown or gray background. They feed on reptiles and sometimes rodents and birds. When they are in the tall grass, they tend to hold their head high up above the grass for observation.
Great Plains Rat Snake adults are 3 to 4 feet long.
The Great Plains Rat Snake has large brown blotches on a gray background. The belly has a checkerboard pattern. They feed on rodents and birds. They are not as agile climbers as the Texas Rat Snake. Generally a much calmer snake.
Great Plains Rat Snake adults are 3 to 4 feet long.
The Great Plains Rat Snake has large brown blotches on a gray background. The belly has a checkerboard pattern. They feed on rodents and birds. They are not as agile climbers as the Texas Rat Snake. Generally a much calmer snake.
The Intergraded Kingsnake is the product of the overlapping ranges of the Desert Kingsnake and the Speckled Kingsnake here in Central Texas.
It is a black snake with yellow or orange speckling that often forms a chain or blotch pattern on its back. It has the same small head and prey as the Prairie Kingsnake.
The Intergraded Kingsnake is the product of the overlapping ranges of the Desert Kingsnake and the Speckled Kingsnake here in Central Texas.
It is a black snake with yellow or orange speckling that often forms a chain or blotch pattern on its back. It has the same small head and prey as the Prairie Kingsnake.
Plain-bellied Water Snake adults average 3 feet in length.
The adult Plain-bellied Water Snake has a brown body. with faint lines forming a pattern on its back, while the juvenile has a much more pronounced pattern. Has a pale, solid yellow chin and belly.
When sitting in water, they only expose their head, with the rest of their body and tail below the surface
Plain-bellied Water Snake adults average 3 feet in length.
The adult Plain-bellied Water Snake has a brown body. with faint lines forming a pattern on its back, while the juvenile has a much more pronounced pattern. Has a pale, solid yellow chin and belly.
When sitting in water, they only expose their head, with the rest of their body and tail below the surface
Prairie Kingsnake adults average 2 to 3 feet long, with coloration that can vary.
Some have dark brown almost oval-shaped blotches on a light gray background, while others have a very dark double row of blotches or even stripes. The head of this snake is small, compared to other large snakes, and the Kingsnake is immune to the venom of the pit vipers. They feed on rodents, birds, and other snakes.
Prairie Kingsnake adults average 2 to 3 feet long, with coloration that can vary.
Some have dark brown almost oval-shaped blotches on a light gray background, while others have a very dark double row of blotches or even stripes. The head of this snake is small, compared to other large snakes, and the Kingsnake is immune to the venom of the pit vipers. They feed on rodents, birds, and other snakes.
Redstripe Ribbon Snake males: 12-18 inches, females: up to 3-4 feet.
Dark red strip down back. Thinner snake than garter snakes. Commonly found around permanent bodies of water because they feed on fish and frogs.
Photo by Adam Dawson | ![]() | ![]() |
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Redstripe Ribbon Snake males: 12-18 inches, females: up to 3-4 feet.
Dark red strip down back. Thinner snake than garter snakes. Commonly found around permanent bodies of water because they feed on fish and frogs.
The Rough Earth Snake is a small, dark brown snake usually less than one foot in length.
They like gardens and cultivated soil where they can find their principal diet, earthworms.
The Rough Earth Snake is a small, dark brown snake usually less than one foot in length.
They like gardens and cultivated soil where they can find their principal diet, earthworms.
Rough Green Snake adults and young are green in color.
They feed on spiders, caterpillars, grasshoppers, and crickets. They are usually found near water or damp woodlands and grass areas.
Rough Green Snake adults and young are green in color.
They feed on spiders, caterpillars, grasshoppers, and crickets. They are usually found near water or damp woodlands and grass areas.