Big city living has its perks, but usually, wildlife isn’t one of them. Wild animals tend to avoid highly populated areas, but what about snakes? Are there snakes in New York City?
There are 8 species of snake you might encounter in New York City. However, you are only likely to see these snakes if you spend time in parks, suburban neighborhoods, or any area where there is open land. This could include fields and abandoned lots, yards, and gardens.
This article will detail each of the 8 species of snakes that inhabit New York City and its surrounding areas. This includes identifying features, behaviors, and diet.
- Northern Copperhead (Viperidae Squamata)
Northern copperheads are one of 3 venomous species native to New York City. However, they are rarely found in the city, as they are shy and reclusive. The copperhead gets its name from the distinctive copper coloring on its head.
This snake grows up to 3 ft (1 m) and usually has a thick, light tan body with wide reddish-brown bands and keeled (rough) scales. Like most pit vipers, it has a distinctive triangular head. Juvenile copperheads can be identified by their bright yellow tail tips.
Copperheads usually inhabit forested areas, rocky hillsides, wetlands, or anywhere there is rotting wood and debris for them to hide under. They are semi-aquatic, so they may also dwell near lakes, ponds, and creeks. During the summer, they are nocturnal but will be more active during the day in fall and spring. They typically hibernate (brumate) during the winter but will come out on warm days.
Adult copperheads prey on:
- mice,
- small snakes,
- lizards,
- birds,
- amphibians,
- large insects such as cicadas
2. Northern Brown Snake (Storeria Dekayi)
The northern brown snake, a.k.a. DeKay’s brown snake, is a small nonvenomous species often mistaken for a copperhead due to its similar coloration. However, the brown snake is more petite, growing only 13 inches (33 cm), and doesn’t have the triangular-shaped head of a pit viper. In addition, these snakes can be yellowish, reddish, or gray-brown in color, and they have small dark spots along their backs that sometimes connect to form a zigzag pattern.
This snake is commonly found in residential areas like yards and gardens but also dwells in a wide range of habitats, including any place with plenty of ground cover like leaf litter, logs, rocks, etc. It is active at night and sometimes around dusk. They hibernate during the winter.
The brown snake’s diet consists of:
- snails,
- slugs
- earthworms
- beetles
- other invertebrates
- It will also eat salamanders and grubs.
So, if you find one in your garden, let it stay! It will eliminate pests for you and is very unlikely to bite.
3. Northern Water Snake (Nerodia Sipedon)
The Northern water snake is another species often confused with copperheads due to its similar coloration and patterning. However, this snake is usually darker. Its body pattern is one of dark, black-rimmed blotches rather than bands like the copperhead. It also doesn’t have a triangular head. Instead, its head is oval-shaped. It grows to lengths of about 3 feet (1 m).
As this snake is an aquatic species, it inhabits areas around lakes, ponds, creeks, streams, marshes, and rivers. They’re active during the day and can often be sighted basking near water. They breed in spring and summer and hibernate during the winter.
Their diet consists mainly of:
- fish, including bass, trout, catfish, minnows, hogsuckers, and sunfish.
- They also eat amphibians such as frogs, toads, and bullfrog tadpoles.
4. Northern Red-Bellied Snake (Storeria Occipitomaculata)
The Northern red-bellied snake is a secretive species not often sighted. It does, however, inhabit the New York City area. It grows only 4 – 10 in (10 – 25 cm) in length and has a dark brown, tan, or reddish-brown back and a bright red belly, as its name suggests. Some snakes may have a light brown ring or spots behind the head and/or faint striping on the neck and sides.
This snake most commonly inhabits wooded or forested areas but can also be found in wetlands, coastal regions, mountains, and grassy fields. However, they will thrive anywhere they can hide under logs, rocks, leaf litter, brush piles, rotting wood, etc. They are active from May through October and breed in late spring and early summer. They hibernate most of the fall and winter. They rarely bite, even when threatened.
Their diet consists mainly of:
- invertebrates
- slugs
- beetle larvae
- earthworms
5. Eastern Garter Snakes (Thamnophis Sirtalis)
The Eastern garter snake is a widespread species with 3 distinctive yellow stripes along its back and sides. It usually grows up to 26 in (66 cm) long and is primarily black or dark brown but may also be olive green or grayish. In addition, its stripes can vary in color from yellow to greenish, brownish, bluish, or occasionally be absent altogether.
This snake inhabits wooded areas, grasslands, and marshlands. They like moist and aquatic environments, so they can often be found near lakes, ponds, rivers, creeks, and ditches. They are active from April through September and usually emerge from hibernation earlier than other snake species.
Garter snakes prey on:
- small mammals
- frogs
- toads
- bird eggs
- invertebrates
6. Eastern Milk Snake (Lampropeltis Triangulum)
The Eastern milk snake is a prevalent species that grows to lengths of up to 36 inches (91 cm). It has a gray or tan body covered in red or red-brown blotches ringed with black and is often confused with the copperhead and the Northern water snake.
It can be distinguished from a copperhead by its blotches and oval head, as copperheads are banded and have triangular heads. The Eastern milk snake also has a distinctive Y-shaped marking at the base of its head. Young milk snakes have brighter red blotches.
This snake inhabits farmlands, grasslands, woodlands, and rocky areas. It may also be found under stone building foundations or in basements, trash piles, and wood piles.
- It hunts rodents like mice, rats, voles, and shrews, which is why it is often found on farmlands or under buildings and wood piles.
- It also eats other snakes.
- eggs
- frogs
- toads
7. Eastern Hognose Snake (Heterodon Platirhinos)
The Eastern hognose snake is a thick-bodied snake that grows up to 33 in (84 cm) and has a distinctive upturned nose, from which they get its name. Its body is usually yellowish, brown, greenish, or black, with large rectangular spots on its back and sides.
This snake prefers to live in woodland and grassy areas with sandy soil. During hibernation, which starts in October, they bury themselves in this sandy soil to survive the winter. This snake is near threatened status in New York, and its habitats are often intersected by roads and highways.
Because this snake has many predators, it has developed interesting displays when threatened. It will lift its head, puff its neck like a cobra, and then hiss and strike. If that doesn’t work, the snake will turn over onto its back, defecate, and let its tongue hang out to appear dead.
The Eastern hognose generally prey on
- mice and other small mammals
- frogs
- toads
- salamanders
- insects.
8. Northern Ring-Necked Snake (Diadophis Punctatus)
The Northern Ringneck snake is shy and likes to hide under rocks and other objects. These snakes are small and gray with a ring of color around the neck, usually red or orange. Their bellies and the ends of their tails are also bright red or orange with black spots.
They grow to only about 15 inches (38 cm). They can dwell in pretty much any habitat, but they spend most of their lives out of sight under leaf litter, logs, or rocks. They can be found in suburban areas, hiding under rocks and other debris in backyards.
When the ringneck snake is frightened, it turns over and shows its brightly colored belly. It also secretes a musk and empties its bowels to scare off potential predators.
They eat the following critters:
- insects
- earthworms
- salamanders
- frogs,
- small snakes
- lizards