Garters and rattlers and copperheads, oh my! A guide to snakes in NJ

In a moms' group the other day I came across a photo of a harmless milk snake and the comment was a warning about copperheads on our local hiking trails. As a major snake lover, I had to chime in and provide THIS LINK to an amazing guide of commonly misidentified snakes by NJ Fish and Wildlife.

I don't want this article to turn into a regurgitation of information about NJ snakes that's already out there so for this article I'm just going to mention three of the snakes you might actually encounter plus the two that are actually venomous (which you will likely never encounter).

For a more comprehensive guide to all our snakes in NJ, click HERE.

I think it's so important that everybody is educated about snakes especially right now when you might be out and about in snake territory with a bit more frequency than you were pre-COVID. Any time you're in snake territory, it's best to wear boots or at least closed shoes (no Crocs or Natives!), and keep a close eye where you're stepping - this is mostly for their safety, not yours.

The guys to not worry about

If you happen across a snake on an outdoor adventure, take a breath and know this: Most snakes you come across in New Jersey are not venomous.

The chances are very high that the snake you've stumbled upon is a) a garter snake, b) a species of milk snake, or c) a Northern water snake. All of these snakes are harmless to humans. Milk snakes in particular are usually very sweet and docile. All of these snakes should be observed from a respectful distance and left to go on their way.

Here's what they can look like!

The guys to watch out for

In New Jersey we have TWO venomous snake species and I am including them here NOT because they're as common as the others mentioned above, because they're not common at all. In fact, in all my time spent trekking through various woods in New Jersey, I've seen just one copperhead. And the other venomous species, the Timber Rattlesnake, is so rare that it's considered officially endangered. The only reason I'm including these two in this article is that these are the only ones that could even be considered dangerous and it's important to know what they look like to avoid misidentification of the above, harmless ones. Important to note that nobody has ever died from a bite from either one of these snakes in NJ.

Here is the guide from NJ Fish and Wildlife that explains the common mix-ups and the very small differences that allow you to tell them apart!

Neither one of these species is known to chase or attack humans but they will defend themselves if they feel threatened so you should always maintain a distance. If you happen to come across a Timber Rattlesnake, you should report the sighting to Endangered and Nongame Species Program.

Here are our venomous NJ snakes!

How to identify a Copperhead HERE.

How to identify a Timber Rattlesnake HERE.

Stepping off my snake-loving soapbox now! If you ever go out and see snakes and want to send pictures to someone who actually cares, I'm your girl and my email address is juliel@macaronikid.com. I'd love to see them!
To follow along with my family's adventures and see some of the wildlife we see plus some tips about how and where to spot it, watch my Instagram stories!