Maine is one of the least populated locations in the USA and over 80% of the land is forested, calling home to lots of snakes. The region has the most forest cover in the United States than any other place in the USA. In the wooded interior, there are some finds of unique species that thrive in different locations in Maine.
The mixed forest and temperate broadleaf biome are some of the climates that you will find in Maine. The state has over 400 kilometers of coastlines and there are numerous fishing villages, offshore islands, and beaches as well. This is one of the contributing factors to unique outdoor activities in Maine.
Here you are going to find different snake species that are venomous and non-venomous. Here are some of the snakes that you can find in the state of Maine.
Table of Contents
Eastern Ribbon Snake
The easter ribbon snake is one of the snakes that you are going to find in the state of Maine. These snakes are unique because they are known to grow up to 35 inches long and they can live up to 10 years.
They are the most common venomous snakes that you can find in the state of Maine. They are shy yet very dangerous whenever they are feeling cornered.
They have slender bodies and they come in different colors such as tan, brown, dark brown, and bright pale yellow. They also have light-colored stripes throughout the length of their body.
They are semiaquatic species and they can be mostly found near the water source and near the shorelines in Maine. Eastern ribbon snakes feed on small insects, frogs, and toads.
You should avoid them when you are exploring the region because they can be very aggressive.
Smooth Green Snake
The smooth green snake is another common snake species that you are going to find in Maine. They are known for their light green colors.
They can grow up to 20 inches long and are rarely seen in the state of Maine because they will hide.
These snakes consume different species depending on the season. These can include moths, spiders, ants, slugs, snails, worms, and caterpillars.
You will find these snakes in different habitats such as meadows, marshes, and open woods. They are bright green in color and the shade of green can vary depending on the age of the snake.
These snakes are known to thrive in different habitats across the state.
Common Garter Snake
The common garter snake is a unique snake species that grows up to 5 feet long and they are known to live up to 10 years.
They are known to be very active during the day. They like to soak in the water. While they might seem docile, these snakes are usually territorial and they will bite whenever they feel cornered.
They come in different colors such as olive-green, black, and brown. Common garter snakes have a distinctive yellow stripe that runs throughout their bodies. These snakes are found in a wide array of habitats such as hillsides, meadows, woodlands, and marshes.
Common garter snakes are known to feed on a wide array of creatures ranging from toads, frogs, salamanders, lizards, newts, and even tadpoles.
Some of their food is toxic and they can handle it. Thus, there is a high chance they can transfer very dangerous bacteria into your system.
Northern Water Snake
The northern water snake is a common poisonous snake species that you should avoid when you visit Maine. These snakes are known to grow up to 55 inches long. They are usually brown, dark gray, and tan. They also have keeled scales.
These snakes have square blotches and their backs can come in bands that are alternating throughout the length. These water snakes are aquatic in nature. You will find them basking on the rocks and logs on the vegetation in the area. Northern water snakes are known to live in areas with slow-moving water such as ponds, pools, and lakes.
They are known to eat a wide array of creatures such as frogs, toads, lizards, and newts. These snakes also consume all kinds of fish such as minnows, brook trout, smallmouth bass, and catfish.
While they are nonvenomous there is a high chance that they can attack you whenever they are cornered.
Western Ribbon Snake
The western ribbon snake is yet another one of the snakes that you can encounter in Maine. This snake is known to grow up to 3 feet long and it can live up to ten years.
These are the most common garter snakes in Maine. The saliva from this snake is known to have mild anticoagulant properties which means that it usually causes failure of the blood to clot. When this happens and they bite the victim is likely to lose a lot of blood as there is no clotting.
They are known for their black, brown, and olive color and their signature pale yellow bodies. These creatures are semiaquatic and they can be found near waterbodies such as lakes, swamps, and rivers.
Eastern Garter Snake
The eastern garter snake is a relatively smaller snake that is known to grow up to 26 inches long and they are known to live up to 10 years in the wild. They thrive in the prairies, forests, and swamps in Maine.
These snakes are more docile, however, whenever they feel threatened then they might bite. They come in different colors such as black, brown, olive green, and tan, with distinctive off-white and yellow-colored stripes on their side.
There are different ways that you can identify this snake and the stripes are some of the easiest ways. They usually feed on a wide array of species such as toads, snakes, frogs, and lizards.
Eastern Milk Snake
The eastern milk snake is a snake species that you are going to find during your exploration of the state of Maine. These snakes are known to grow up to 4 feet long and they can live up to 22 years.
They are nonvenomous; however, they have anticoagulants in their saliva that when they bite, usually cause excessive bleeding of the victim because the blood is unable to clot. These snakes come in different colors ranging from brown, black, and tan. They also have different blotches on their bodies.
Their skin will sometimes come in a red striped pattern and this is similar to that of the coral snakes. The eastern milk snake is known to have catlike pupils.
They are commonly found in different habitats such as woodlands, cliffs, watercourses, and forest edges. They are carnivorous species and they can consume a wide array of creatures such as mice, rats, and lizards.
Northern Ringneck Snake
The northern ringneck snake is a snake species that is found in different locations in the state of Maine. They can grow up to 15 inches long and they can live up to ten years. Northern ringnecks are docile in nature.
These snakes have weak venom they use to neutralize their prey. They have rear fangs and this is where they bite and deliver venom.
The northern ringneck snake has a flat head and they have smooth scales throughout its body. The undersides of this snake might range from pale yellow to other colors. They can have other spots or speckles.
During your visit to the state of Maine, you are likely to encounter this snake and they can easily be confused with prairie ring snakes. They usually like areas that have a higher moisture content therefore you are going to find them in areas that have vegetation and moist leaves. They usually consume creatures such as toads, snakes, lizards, and beetles.
DeKay’s Brown Snake
The DeKay’s brown snake is one of the common snakes in the state of Maine. They are known to grow up to 13 inches long. This is a brown snake that is known to inhabit different locations around the state. You can encounter them in the forests, grasslands, and the woodlands.
They come in red, yellow, and grayish tones. They usually have two rows of lighter and darker tones on the body. There is a darker spot on the head and the undersides.
They like to roam in the lowlands, prairies, and savannas. They feed on animals such as snails, slugs, earthworms, toads, frogs, and lizards.
Northern Red-bellied Snake
The northern red-bellied snake is a species that are known to inhabit harder-to-reach areas in Maine. They can grow up to 16 inches long and live up to 4 years.
It is critical to note that it is very rare to find these snakes. They are very secretive in nature and you won’t find them in some of the common habitats around the state. During the warm days in the summer then you are likely to find them basking in the sun. You can also find them in fields, woodlands, bike trails, back roads, and sphagnum bogs.
They usually eat a wide array of creatures ranging from frogs, newts, tadpoles, slugs, leeches, and earthworms. You can easily find them in pesticide-free gardens during the summer period.
While they are known to be timid and will flee when they see people, you should not corner them because they will see it as a threat and they will likely attack you. When they bite the anticoagulant on their saliva will cause continuous bleeding.
Let’s learn more about the snakes you can encounter in the United States:
