Snakes can be extremely dangerous, so it’s always a smart idea to learn what varieties you might encounter when you are out walking. Luckily, most snakes are not poisonous, but your life can depend on your ability to determine the ones that are. We are going to list several snakes that you can find in Louisiana to help you understand the wildlife a little better. For each entry, we’ll show you a picture of what it looks like, along with a short description to help you learn a little more about it.

14 Snakes Found in Louisiana

  1. Ringneck Snake Image Credit: jokerbethyname, Shutterstock

Species: Diadophis punctatus

Longevity: 20 years

Good to own as a pet?: Yes

Legal to own?: Yes

Adult size: 10–15 inches

The Ring-necked Snake is one of the non-venomous snakes that you can find in Louisiana. Several species are all easily identifiable by a ring around the body where the neck separates the head from the rest of the snake. You can find them all over the United States, and they are quite plentiful in Louisiana.

  1. North American Racer

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Species: Coluber constrictor

Longevity: 10 years

Good to own as a pet?: Yes

Legal to own?: Yes

Adult size: 20–65 inches

The North American Racer is another non-venomous snake that you can find all over the United States, including Louisianna. It gets its name from the high speeds it’s able to attain. It’s active during the day and prefers to stay in brush or trash piles near water.

  1. Scarlet Snake Image Credit: Jay Ondreicka, Shutterstock

Species: Cemophora coccinea

Longevity: 20–30 years

Good to own as a pet?: Yes

Legal to own?: Yes

Adult size: 14–26 inches

The Scarlet Snake is an attractive species that is easy to confuse with a poisonous Coral Snake. These snakes are not venomous and are easy to find in Louisianna, but their numbers are declining in other states like New Jersey, where they are becoming quite rare. These snakes are not captive bred, so any pets will come from the wild, making problems worse.

  1. Western Worm Snake

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Species: Carphophis vermis

Longevity: 20–30 years

Good to own as a pet?: Yes

Legal to own?: Yes

Adult size: 7–11 inches

The Western Worm Snake is another non-venomous snake that you can find in Louisianna. It can release a terrible smelling musk from its cloaca (a snake’s butt) if stressed, which will usually send the intruding party on its way. It usually has a dark top with a light pink underside.

  1. Earth Snake Image Credit: Dylan Wallace, Shutterstock

Species: Virginia valeriae elegans

Longevity: 7–8 years

Good to own as a pet?: Yes

Legal to own?: Yes

Adult size: 7–10 inches

There are two varieties of the Earth Snake, the Eastern and the Western. It has a heavy bi=ody and is usually a dark gray. It has smooth skin and doesn’t mind when you pick it up, so it makes a fantastic pet.

  1. Garter Snakes Image Credit: PublicDomainImages, Pixabay

Species: Thamnophis

Longevity: 4–5 years

Good to own as a pet?: Yes

Legal to own?: Yes

Adult size: 18–55 inches

There are several variations of the Garter snake that you can find almost anywhere in the United States, including Louisianna. They usually have yellow stripes on their back that run the length of their body. It’s a daytime snake that usually hides among dense shrubbery.

  1. Flat Headed Snake

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Species: Tantilla gracilis

Longevity: 4–5 years

Good to own as a pet?: Yes

Legal to own?: Yes

Adult size: 7 inches

The Flat Headed Snake is one of the smallest snakes in Louisianna, and it typically doesn’t get any larger than about eight inches. It’s a smooth snake that almost resembles a worm and has a gray, brown, or reddish-brown color. The head often looks slightly darker than the rest of the body.

  1. Southeastern Crowned Snake

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Species: Tantilla coronata

Longevity: 5–10 years

Good to own as a pet?: Yes

Legal to own?: Yes

Adult size: 8–10 inches

The Southeastern Crowned Snake is a small and slender snake that you can find in several states, including Louisianna. It prefers sandy soil with plenty of dead leaves and other organic litter to help provide cover. It’s a smooth snake that is generally active during the day.

  1. Redbelly Snake

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Species: Storeria occipitomaculata

Longevity: 4 years

Good to own as a pet?: Yes

Legal to own?: Yes

Adult size: 8–12 inches

The Redbelly Snake is easy to identify, thanks to its bright orange underside. The head is usually darker than the rest of the body, and there will be a white dot below each eye. It usually grows to about one foot long and is non-venomous.

Venomous Snakes in Louisiana 10. Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake Image Credit: Piqsels

Species: Crotalus adamanteus

Longevity: 20 years

Good to own as a pet?: Yes

Legal to own?: Yes

Adult size: 4–7 feet

The Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake is the most dangerous snake in Louisiana. In fact, it’s the most poisonous snake in America. Its body is usually brown or tan, with a pattern of dark diamonds along the back. These snakes get quite large, with some reaching up to seven feet. However, they are currently critically endangered, so they might not be with us much longer.

  1. Timber Rattlesnake Image Credit: Paul Staniszewski, Shutterstock

Species: Crotalus horridus

Longevity: 15 – 20 years

Good to own as a pet?: Yes

Legal to own?: Yes

Adult size: 3–4 feet

The Timber Rattlesnake is another dangerous animal that you can find all over Louisianna. Colors can vary significantly from one snake to the next, and they will darken over time. You will usually find these snakes in the forest.

  1. Eastern Copperhead

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Species: Agkistrodon contortrix

Longevity: 18 years

Good to own as a pet?: Yes

Legal to own?: Yes

Adult size: 30–40 inches

The Eastern Copperhead is easy to identify because of its bright copper color. It’s a little hardier than many other species, and they continue to press into new habitats.

  1. Texas Coral Snake

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Species: Micrurus tener

Longevity: 9 years

Good to own as a pet?: Yes

Legal to own?: Yes

Adult size: 6–10 inches

The Texas Coral Snake is poisonous and can deliver a painful bite. It likes to spend most of its time in underground burrows and only comes out to hunt. These snakes have one of the most potent bites, but because they spend so much time underground almost, no one gets bit.

  1. Cottonmouth Image Credit: Piqsels

Species: Agkistrodon piscivorus

Longevity: 5–10 years

Good to own as a pet?: Yes

Legal to own?: Yes

Adult size: 24–48 inches

The Cottonmouth is another venomous snake that you can find in Louisianna. It also goes by the name Water Moccasin, and it likes to spend plenty of time in the water. It can deliver a potentially fatal bite but usually coils itself up and shows its’ fangs before it resorts to biting. Water Snakes in Louisiana Image Credit: Pixabay The Cottonmouth, also called the Water Moccasin, is the only snake you need to worry about when you enter the water.

You may also want to read: 33 Snakes Found in Texas (with Pictures)

Conclusion As you can see, there are plenty of snakes you can run into while going for your morning hike. However, the vast majority of them are not poisonous, so you don’t need to worry too much. Take the time to learn how to identify each of the poisonous snakes so you can identify them quickly, even at a distance. Some of these snakes will also make a great pet, but we recommend purchasing one from a breeder that has the skills to captive breed your snake. Wild-caught pets are harder to tame, and it could harm the natural population. We hope you have enjoyed reading over this list and found the answers to your questions. If you found some breeds that you didn’t know existed here, please share this guide to 14 snakes found in Louisiana on Facebook and Twitter. Related Reads: 

34 Snakes Found in Australia (With Pictures) 7 Snakes Without Teeth (With Pictures)

Featured Image Credit: Matt Jeppson, Shutterstock

Snakes can be extremely dangerous, so it’s always a smart idea to learn what varieties you might encounter when you are out walking. Luckily, most snakes are not poisonous, but your life can depend on your ability to determine the ones that are. We are going to list several snakes that you can find in Louisiana to help you understand the wildlife a little better. For each entry, we’ll show you a picture of what it looks like, along with a short description to help you learn a little more about it.

14 Snakes Found in Louisiana

1. Ringneck Snake

Species: Diadophis punctatus

Longevity: 20 years

Good to own as a pet?: Yes

Legal to own?: Yes

Adult size: 10–15 inches

The Ring-necked Snake is one of the non-venomous snakes that you can find in Louisiana. Several species are all easily identifiable by a ring around the body where the neck separates the head from the rest of the snake. You can find them all over the United States, and they are quite plentiful in Louisiana.

2. North American Racer

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Andrew Nydam (@andrew.nydam)

Species: Coluber constrictor

Longevity: 10 years

Good to own as a pet?: Yes

Legal to own?: Yes

Adult size: 20–65 inches

The North American Racer is another non-venomous snake that you can find all over the United States, including Louisianna. It gets its name from the high speeds it’s able to attain. It’s active during the day and prefers to stay in brush or trash piles near water.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Andrew Nydam (@andrew.nydam)

A post shared by Andrew Nydam (@andrew.nydam)

View this post on Instagram

View this post on Instagram

3. Scarlet Snake

Species: Cemophora coccinea

Longevity: 20–30 years

Good to own as a pet?: Yes

Legal to own?: Yes

Adult size: 14–26 inches

The Scarlet Snake is an attractive species that is easy to confuse with a poisonous Coral Snake. These snakes are not venomous and are easy to find in Louisianna, but their numbers are declining in other states like New Jersey, where they are becoming quite rare. These snakes are not captive bred, so any pets will come from the wild, making problems worse.

4. Western Worm Snake

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Aaron G. (@goody00)

Species: Carphophis vermis

Longevity: 20–30 years

Good to own as a pet?: Yes

Legal to own?: Yes

Adult size: 7–11 inches

The Western Worm Snake is another non-venomous snake that you can find in Louisianna. It can release a terrible smelling musk from its cloaca (a snake’s butt) if stressed, which will usually send the intruding party on its way. It usually has a dark top with a light pink underside.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Aaron G. (@goody00)

A post shared by Aaron G. (@goody00)

5. Earth Snake

Species: Virginia valeriae elegans

Longevity: 7–8 years

Good to own as a pet?: Yes

Legal to own?: Yes

Adult size: 7–10 inches

There are two varieties of the Earth Snake, the Eastern and the Western. It has a heavy bi=ody and is usually a dark gray. It has smooth skin and doesn’t mind when you pick it up, so it makes a fantastic pet.

6. Garter Snakes

Species: Thamnophis

Longevity: 4–5 years

Good to own as a pet?: Yes

Legal to own?: Yes

Adult size: 18–55 inches

There are several variations of the Garter snake that you can find almost anywhere in the United States, including Louisianna. They usually have yellow stripes on their back that run the length of their body. It’s a daytime snake that usually hides among dense shrubbery.

7. Flat Headed Snake

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Michael Taylor (@michael.taylor.photography)

Species: Tantilla gracilis

Longevity: 4–5 years

Good to own as a pet?: Yes

Legal to own?: Yes

Adult size: 7 inches

The Flat Headed Snake is one of the smallest snakes in Louisianna, and it typically doesn’t get any larger than about eight inches. It’s a smooth snake that almost resembles a worm and has a gray, brown, or reddish-brown color. The head often looks slightly darker than the rest of the body.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Michael Taylor (@michael.taylor.photography)

A post shared by Michael Taylor (@michael.taylor.photography)

8. Southeastern Crowned Snake

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Seth (@classiccityscientist)

Species: Tantilla coronata

Longevity: 5–10 years

Good to own as a pet?: Yes

Legal to own?: Yes

Adult size: 8–10 inches

The Southeastern Crowned Snake is a small and slender snake that you can find in several states, including Louisianna. It prefers sandy soil with plenty of dead leaves and other organic litter to help provide cover. It’s a smooth snake that is generally active during the day.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Seth (@classiccityscientist)

A post shared by Seth (@classiccityscientist)

9. Redbelly Snake

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A post shared by @ctsnaking

Species: Storeria occipitomaculata

Longevity: 4 years

Good to own as a pet?: Yes

Legal to own?: Yes

Adult size: 8–12 inches

The Redbelly Snake is easy to identify, thanks to its bright orange underside. The head is usually darker than the rest of the body, and there will be a white dot below each eye. It usually grows to about one foot long and is non-venomous.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by @ctsnaking

A post shared by @ctsnaking

Venomous Snakes in Louisiana

10. Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake

Species: Crotalus adamanteus

Longevity: 20 years

Good to own as a pet?: Yes

Legal to own?: Yes

Adult size: 4–7 feet

The Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake is the most dangerous snake in Louisiana. In fact, it’s the most poisonous snake in America. Its body is usually brown or tan, with a pattern of dark diamonds along the back. These snakes get quite large, with some reaching up to seven feet. However, they are currently critically endangered, so they might not be with us much longer.

11. Timber Rattlesnake

Species: Crotalus horridus

Longevity: 15 – 20 years

Good to own as a pet?: Yes

Legal to own?: Yes

Adult size: 3–4 feet

The Timber Rattlesnake is another dangerous animal that you can find all over Louisianna. Colors can vary significantly from one snake to the next, and they will darken over time. You will usually find these snakes in the forest.

12. Eastern Copperhead

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A post shared by reptileexperts (@reptile_experts)

Species: Agkistrodon contortrix

Longevity: 18 years

Good to own as a pet?: Yes

Legal to own?: Yes

Adult size: 30–40 inches

The Eastern Copperhead is easy to identify because of its bright copper color. It’s a little hardier than many other species, and they continue to press into new habitats.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by reptileexperts (@reptile_experts)

A post shared by reptileexperts (@reptile_experts)

13. Texas Coral Snake

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Yinan Li (@diomedea_exulans_li)

Species: Micrurus tener

Longevity: 9 years

Good to own as a pet?: Yes

Legal to own?: Yes

Adult size: 6–10 inches

The Texas Coral Snake is poisonous and can deliver a painful bite. It likes to spend most of its time in underground burrows and only comes out to hunt. These snakes have one of the most potent bites, but because they spend so much time underground almost, no one gets bit.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Yinan Li (@diomedea_exulans_li)

A post shared by Yinan Li (@diomedea_exulans_li)

14. Cottonmouth

Species: Agkistrodon piscivorus

Longevity: 5–10 years

Good to own as a pet?: Yes

Legal to own?: Yes

Adult size: 24–48 inches

The Cottonmouth is another venomous snake that you can find in Louisianna. It also goes by the name Water Moccasin, and it likes to spend plenty of time in the water. It can deliver a potentially fatal bite but usually coils itself up and shows its’ fangs before it resorts to biting.

Water Snakes in Louisiana

The Cottonmouth, also called the Water Moccasin, is the only snake you need to worry about when you enter the water.

  • You may also want to read: 33 Snakes Found in Texas (with Pictures)

Conclusion

As you can see, there are plenty of snakes you can run into while going for your morning hike. However, the vast majority of them are not poisonous, so you don’t need to worry too much. Take the time to learn how to identify each of the poisonous snakes so you can identify them quickly, even at a distance. Some of these snakes will also make a great pet, but we recommend purchasing one from a breeder that has the skills to captive breed your snake. Wild-caught pets are harder to tame, and it could harm the natural population.

We hope you have enjoyed reading over this list and found the answers to your questions. If you found some breeds that you didn’t know existed here, please share this guide to 14 snakes found in Louisiana on Facebook and Twitter.

Related Reads: 

  • 34 Snakes Found in Australia (With Pictures)
  • 7 Snakes Without Teeth (With Pictures)

Featured Image Credit: Matt Jeppson, Shutterstock