10 States With no or Least Poisonous Snakes in America

Although venomous snakes are spread throughout whole America lets’ find out which 10 states with no or least poisonous snakes in America are.

Only 20 snake species are venomous in the US, among around 150 of them, but surprisingly they are present in almost every state. Interestingly, in 10 States With the Most Venomous Snakes in America none of these venomous snakes are considered endangered comparing to states with least venomous snake species, where some of them even got extinct!

Venomous animals, in general, are often being met in warmer climates. That is also the case in the US, the northern belt has less than 5 poisonous animals per state, and the figure gradually grows towards the south, where Arizona has the most poisonous animals (around 30 species). So, according to that, states with no or least venomous snakes in America also tend to be the northernmost.  That is to be expected, because snakes usually prefer warmer climates, being cold blooded animals that cannot produce heat themselves to warm their bodies. However, snakes are adaptable creatures that inhabit most variable ecosystems, from deserts, forests, swamps, meadows to the open seas. During the winter, especially in colder areas, snakes hibernate in the underground tunnels or some other protected shelters. Poisonous snakes that inhabit these states do not belong to the most venomous snakes in America, and are usually quite rare, and also encounters with humans are very uncommon.

For the information on states with no or least poisonous snakes in America, we have consulted primarily Venombyte and Cobras sites. After picking states with no or least poisonous snakes, we have compared the data with governmental and wildlife sources for each of these states in order to rank the states on our list. Let’s see which are the safest states concerning venomous snakes in America.

10. Michigan

There are 18 non-venomous snakes and one venomous snake species in Michigan. That is the eastern massasauga rattlesnake (Sistrurus catenatus catenatus). These snakes inhabit wet swampy areas, grasslands or even farmlands. They are mostly widespread in Lower Peninsula in Michigan. Their population is decreasing, mostly because of killing by humans, and they are considered to be endangered species, on the list of special concern and protected by law.

9. Montana

Montana is home to ten snake species, among which only one is venomous, the prairie rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis). They are widely spread species, and commonly encounter people, though bites are extremely rare.

8. New Hampshire

There are 11 snake species native to New Hampshire, the next one on the list of states with no or least poisonous snakes in America and only one of them, the timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) is venomous. Of these 11 species, 5 are considered to be highly endangered in New Hampshire, with the greatest need of conservation, and protected by law, among them being the timber rattlesnake. Main threats to these snakes are loss of habitat, gravel mining, and killing by humans.

7. North Dakota

The only venomous snake among 8 snake species in North Dakota is the prairie rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis). It is spread only in western part of the state, west of the Missouri River.

6. Delaware

Twenty different snake species inhabit Delaware, the number 6 on our list of states with no or least poisonous snakes in America, and only one of them is poisonous. That is the famous northern copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix mockasen), known under many other common names like copperhead moccasin, pilot, poplar leaf, red adder, thunder snakes, etc. It is widely spread throughout the eastern US. It can be found in many habitats, like rocky areas or swampy terrains. It is nicely camouflaged so it can rarely be seen, and that’s what makes them dangerous. Even so, these snakes rarely encounter people and their bites are rarely fatal.

5. Washington

There are around dozen snake species in Washington, all of them being non-poisonous except the northern pacific rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus oreganus). This species is widely spread from Canada throughout the western US coast down to northern parts of Mexico, and it is the most widely distributed rattlesnake in north-western US. That is why it regionally differs and has 9 subspecies.

4. Vermont

There are 11 snake species in Vermont, the next one on the list of states with no or least poisonous snakes in America and only one of them being poisonous. That is the timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) which inhabits rocky areas and woodlands. Although this snake is very common venomous snake species in America, it is considered rare in Vermont and it has been classified as one of the most endangered species of greatest conservation need with high priority in Vermont. That makes Vermont one of the states with least poisonous snakes in America.

3. Hawaii

Although it is commonly thought there are no snake species at all in Hawaii that is not absolutely true. There indeed are no indigenous snake species in Hawaii, but only recently has one species been introduced to Hawaiian Islands during 1980’s. That is brahminy blind snake (Ramphotylops Braminus) that was probably brought from Philipines in potted plant soil. These are small, worm-like snakes but they are not poisonous. The only venomous snake that can sometimes be seen on the shores of Hawaii is the yellow-bellied sea snake (Pelamis platurus). It is highly venomous aquatic snake that inhabits Pacific waters and is seen throughout Asian, Australian and West American coast. However, even being the only venomous snake, this snake is very rarely seen on Hawaiian shores.

2. Maine

Nine non-venomous snake species inhabit Maine. The only venomous snake found in Maine is the timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus), but according to some sources not even this snake is present in Maine. Timber rattlesnake did once inhabit Maine and Rhode Island, but became extinct due to human behaviour which led to the disappearance and fragmentation of their habitats, road constructions and also killing of snakes. Now only one snake species is on the endangered list of animals, also because of habitat loss, and that is non-venomous black racer (Coluber constrictor).

1. Alaska

Number one state of our list of 10 states with no or least poisonous snakes in America is Alaska. This is the safest country considering venomous snakes; it is the only country with no venomous species. It is often thought that there are no snakes in Alaska at all, which is reasonable, having in mind freezing Alaskan temperatures. Even so, non-poisonous garter snake (of Thamnophis genus), one of the most common American snake species, can rarely be seen wandering in the southernmost parts of Alaska.