Snakes of ArkansasBy: Ashley Morris

Copperhead Venomous Snake

• Adults can be 24-36 inches long.

• This snake can be found in forests and rocky or brushy fields and hillsides.

• The snake is active from April to November.

• The snake prowls on hot nights and eats rodents, frogs, lizards, small snakes and cicadas.

Cottonmouth Venomous Snake

• Adults can be 24-36 inches long.

• This snake is found in wetlands around swamps, lakes, drainage ditches, and streams.

• This snake is active from April to November.

• The cottonmouth eats fish, amphibians, lizards, snakes, birds, and rodents

Timber Rattlesnake Venomous Snake

• Adults can be 36-60 inches long.

• This snake can be found in hardwood, forests, and brushy fields and hilltops, some in trees when searching for prey.

• This snake is active from April to October.

• This snake prowls on hot nights and eats shrews, gophers, rodents, rabbits, chipmunks, squirrels, and birds.

Milk Snake

• Adults can be 16-28 inches long.

• This snake can be found in Pine, hardwood, and rocky areas under logs.

• This snake is active from March to October.

• This snake is harmless, not venomous.

• This snake eats lizards, snakes and rodents.

Plainbelly Water Snake

• Adults can be 30-48 inches long.

• This snake can be found in Sluggish water habitats in swamps, lakes, rivers, and streams.

• This snake is active from March to November.

• This snake is active during hot nights and eats fish, amphibians, and crayfish.

Northern Water Snake

• Adults can be 24-42 inches long.• This snake is the most commonly

found water snake and can be found in reservoirs and fast-flowing rivers and streams.

• This snake is active from March to October.

• This snake eats fish and frogs.• The northern water snake is often

mistaken as a venomous snake as it resembles the copperhead and cottonmouth snakes.

Racer Terrestrial Snake

• Adults can be 30-60 inches long.

• This snake can be found in forest and forest edges.

• This snake is active from March to November.

• The racer is active in the day in the fields and eats rodents, snakes, frogs, and insects.

Speckled Kingsnake

• Adults can be 36-48 inches long.

• The habitat of the Kingsnake includes swamps, forests, marches, prairies, and pastures.

• This snake is active from March to November.

• This is a cool snake that is said to eat venomous snakes along with lizards, rodents and other snakes.

Common Garter Snake

• Adults can be 18-24 inches long.

• Found in many different wet places, marshes, floodplains, lake and pond edges, and wet pastures.

• This snake is active from March to November.

• The common garter snake is active during the day and eats amphibians, earthworms, minnows, young rodents, and small snakes.

Mud Snake

• Adults can be 40-54 inches long.• This snake is an aquatic snake and

can be found in cypress tupelo gum swamps and the margins of oxbow lakes.

• This snake is active from April to October.

• This snake feeds on amphiuma and lesser siren which are large salamanders.

• This snake is harmless and does not ever try to bite.

Brown Snake

• Adults can be 9-13 inches long.

• This snake can be found in moist habitats in forests, swamps, and floodplains.

• This snake is active from late March to October.

• This snake feeds on earthworms, slugs and land snails. It has elongated teeth that allows it to get the hard shell off of the snail.

References

• http://www.agfc.com/resources/publications/ar_snakes.pdf

• Arkansas Game and Fish Commission