Georgia Garden Snakes: Identifying the Most Common Snakes in Your Garden

Georgia’s environment is excellent for snakes which makes gardens all over in Georgia terrific for a minimum of some snakes. Because it’s temperate the majority of the year, they don’t brumate for long. And, although there are great deals of industrial and domestic advancements, numerous snakes are doing simply great. 

The southern state’s environment is so good for snakes that there are 46 types belonging to Georgia, plus a couple of presented types. Of those native snakes, just 6 threaten poisonous types. As you’ll see, they don’t even make the leading 5! 

We’re beginning with the leading 5 snakes you might discover in your garden — they’re all nonvenomous. 

Because we believe understanding how to determine poisonous snakes is 

#1 Most Common Snake in Georgia Gardens: Dekay’s Brownsnake (Storeria dekayi)

Dekay’s brown snake rarely grows than 12 inches. The record was a tremendous 19 ¾ inches long. The types doesn’t lay eggs, however rather the infants are born live and prepared to go. They share this quality with garter snakes, another natricine snake — an elegant word for snakes in the Natricinae family that consists of water snakes like #2 on our list.

Small and slim, Dekay’s brown snakes have little heads and round students. They’re often puzzled for garter snakes due to the fact that, like garter snakes, Dekay’s brown snakes frequently have a light-colored dorsal stripe. Their bodies are typically a shade of brown or gray with darker markings on either side of their dorsal stripe. 

This small types assists keep the slug and earthworm populations under control. Dekay’s brown snake is exceptionally typical in the eastern U.S. This reclusive snake remains concealed under leaf litter, rocks, and logs the majority of the time — paradoxically likewise a fantastic location to discover slugs and earthworms. Even little snakes follow their food!

#2 Common Watersnake (Nerodia sipedon)

Although the next types on our list most likely won’t remain in your city garden, it does simply great in Georgia’s nation gardens with a water source. They’re not fussy about what sort of water source either — it might be a natural stream or your koi pond. Which brings us to their victim — fish, frogs, and other little animals that reside in and around water.

Common watersnakes are well-named. They’re the most typical water snake types in the eastern U.S. and variety as far north as southern Canada. 

A heavy-bodied snake, they’re frequently puzzled for water moccasins. But, they’re typically thinner and mature to 4 feet , 5 inches long. the only defense these nonvenomous snakes have is a set of razor-sharp teeth — which they will utilize versus anybody who attempts to select them up. 

This types has a flatter head that is the very same width as its neck. Like numerous snakes, typical water snakes can flatten their go out in an effort to look larger and meaner. However, all they do is appearance goofy due to the fact that it extends their face to cartoonish percentages.

Common water snakes have dark vertical bars along their lip scales and round students — something that poisonous North American pit vipers do not have. They can be gray, reddish, brown or brownish-black with darker neck crossbands and body spots. As they age, typical water snakes darken, concealing their pattern, however their stubborn bellies frequently remain yellow, white, or gray.

#3 Eastern Rat Snake (Pantherophis alleghaniensis)

We like rat snakes. They look like the comics of the snake world with their insane climbing up shenanigans! Rat snakes worldwide have actually influenced their really own Facebook group — Ratsnakes in Predicaments. 

The eastern rat snake can grow to 6 feet long, however the record is 7 and a half feet long. They are active the majority of the day and have definitely no embarassment. We would not be amazed to hear you discovered a rat snake in your Georgia garden! A couple of have actually surprised individuals in their cooking areas and garages, while other help themselves to chicken eggs.

These long, muscular snakes don’t have the heaviness of a pit viper, however are more considerable than a racer. Adult eastern rat snakes in Georgia gardens are typically strong black with white on their chins. Juveniles have a strong pattern with gray or brown base color and dark rectangle-shaped spots down the backs. 

Eastern rat snakes consume anything they can suit their mouths, however are especially keen on rodents, infant birds, and eggs. You can discover these snakes travelling through attic crawl areas, trees, fences, and the structure of homes. 

#4 Eastern Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis)

Our next typical Georgia garden snake is the eastern garter snake. It’s extremely versatile and can be discovered in uninhabited lots, open fields, and your shrubs. 

Various garter snakes live in the majority of North America’s snake-friendly environment zones. They’re one of the most cold-tolerant snakes and are frequently active both previously and later on in the year than other snakes.

Most eastern garter snakes balance one and a half to 2 feet long, however periodically one will grow to 4 feet. Like other natricine snakes, they deliver rather of laying eggs and are among the most cold-adapted snakes in the world. 

Although the various subspecies are difficult to distinguish, it’s easy to see that it’s a garter snake. These snakes have 3 longitudinal stripes that start right behind their heads — one dorsal and one on each flank. Eastern garter snakes frequently have yellow-colored or cream colored stripes and greenish, brown, or black body color. 

Harmless to people, eastern garter snakes’ saliva seems harmful to their preferred victim — amphibians. 

#5 Racer (Coluber constrictor) 

North American racers are another typical snake. Different subspecies live in the majority of the U.S. other than for the dry Arizona environment. 

These snakes are long and thin, frequently reaching 5 feet in total length. As juveniles, they typically have a light background color with darker splotches over their body. Many individuals error them for young coachwhips and rat snakes due to the fact that their patterns are so comparable.

Racers end up being strong colored as they develop. Depending on the color, you’ll discover various names for them — blue racer, yellow bellied racer, black racer, and so on. Their stubborn bellies are typically a strong color that varies from white or cream to black.

If you see a racer in your Georgia garden, it won’t be for long. This types can remove at 4 miles per hour. While that doesn’t appear really quickly, for a snake it’s light speed!

Other Nonvenomous Georgia Garden Snakes

Georgia’s 46 native types are mainly safe. Some are little enough that individuals puzzle them for worms in the beginning glimpse!

Here are a couple of you may discover in your garden:

• Ring-necked snake (Diadophis punctatus)
• Red-bellied snake (Storeria occipitomaculata)
• Rough greensnake (Opheodrys aestivus)
• Southern hognose snake (Heterodon simus)
• Scarlet kingsnake (Lampropeltis elapsoides)
• Mudsnake (Farancia abacura)
• Florida crowned snake (Tantilla relicta)

Venomous Snakes in Georgia Gardens

Fortunately, poisonous snakes aren’t as typical in Georgia gardens — they’re exceptionally shy and prevent individuals. All however one is a pit viper and simple to determine as poisonous — those huge venom glands make their heads substantial. Then, there’s the a little upset expression thanks to the vertical students and ridge over the eyes. 

Even though they aren’t as typical in your garden, it’s still essential to understand about them. After all, you wouldn’t head out foraging for mushrooms without very first understanding which ones would eliminate you, would you? It’s the very same with managing snakes. Most are safe, however some can hurt or eliminate you.

Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix)

By far the most typical poisonous snake in Georgia gardens is the copperhead. It’s far less cautious of individuals than the others and endures disrupted and established environment better. 

Copperheads are intense and stunning snakes. They have a light brown to pinkish brown base color with hourglass-shaped markings. When you see them from the side, they appear like chocolate kisses. Their heads are copper-colored, which is what provides their name. 

This isn’t a big snake and the majority of them typical in between 2 and 3 feet long. However, they do have traditional pit viper functions: 

• Heat picking up pits in between eye and nostril
• Vertical students
• Ridge over the eyes
• Chunky body, proportionately big head, and slim neck

These snakes love snacking on cicadas in the summer season — yes, they climb up trees. But the majority of them stay with the ground, concealing in leaf litter. Copperheads have a diverse diet plan and might consume whatever from bugs to mice. 

Happily, they’re distinctly not aggressive and many individuals have actually stepped right beside one and not been bitten. Of course, we don’t advise it. You never ever understand when you’ll get bitten. 

Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus, A. conanti, and hybrids)

Water moccasins (likewise called cottonmouths) are likewise typical in Georgia, however most likely not as typical in city gardens. They’re exceptionally reclusive, and frequently don’t even brumate with other snakes.

As juveniles, these snakes look a lot like copperheads. The most significant visual distinction is that their pattern has actually jagged edges that many individuals call pixellated and the really dark stripe that begins behind their eyes. That’s where the resemblances end.

Cottonmouths grow than copperheads — some grow to 4 feet long and the record is around 6 feet long. Additionally, they don’t keep that pattern — they darken with age. 

Their name originates from their protective habits: when a cottonmouth is confronted with a danger, they toss their mouths open and display the intense white interior.

These snakes choose consuming fish and amphibians, so they hug water sources. In truth, this is the only semiaquatic pit viper in North America. 

Other Venomous Georgia Garden Snakes

The other poisonous snakes you may discover in your Georgia garden are unusual. You’re not most likely to see one, however you may — so here they are with links to more details:

Most snakes prevent individuals due to the fact that we’re a lot larger and more harmful to them. They can’t consume us, so that makes us a danger to their safety. 

Love them or fear them, offer snakes some space and they’ll do the very same for you. And, they’ll look after your insect issues!

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