5 Common Snakes in Southeastern Kentucky
Pest Expert Matthew S. Hess – 06/09/2025
If you’ve spent any time walking the woods, mowing your lawn, or flipping rocks in your garden in Southeastern Kentucky, chances are you’ve crossed paths with a snake or two. While they often get a bad rap, snakes are an important part of the local ecosystem, acting as both predator and prey in the great food web.
Whether you’re curious, concerned, or just tired of jumping six feet every time something slithers by, here’s a friendly introduction to the most common snakes you’re likely to encounter in Southeastern Kentucky. No need to panic, just a little herpetology 101!
Eastern Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis)
The friendly yard visitor you probably would rather not see. This little guy is probably the most commonly seen snake in Kentucky. Garter snakes are non-venomous and usually grow to about 2–3 feet long. They’re often black or dark brown with yellow or greenish stripes running down their bodies.
They love damp places like gardens, creek beds, and tall grass, which are perfect environments for their favorite meals: earthworms, amphibians, and small insects. They’re harmless to humans and actually help keep the pest population in check.
Black Rat Snake (Pantherophis obsoletus)
This is the big snake that freaks everyone out, but it is not only harmless, it’s actually beneficial! These snakes can get long, we’re talking up to 6 feet or more. But despite their intimidating size, black rat snakes are completely non-venomous and incredibly helpful to have around. They’re excellent climbers and often found around barns, attics, and wooded areas where they feed on mice, rats, birds, and bird eggs.
Their strong constriction technique makes them efficient predators. They’ll rattle their tail when threatened, mimicking a rattlesnake, but rest assured, it’s just a bluff.
Entomological Angle: The black rat snake helps manage rodent populations, those same rodents that love to chew on wiring and spread diseases. If you see these snakes around your home, you may have mice!
Eastern Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix)
This is one to definitely watch out for, but most people in Kentucky have actually never seen a live, wild specimen! These are one of Kentucky’s four venomous snakes, but don’t let that scare you too much, copperheads are shy and rarely aggressive. They prefer wooded hillsides, rocky outcrops, and brushy fields.
They’re beautifully patterned with hourglass-shaped bands and a copper-colored head. Their camouflage is so good that many bites happen when people accidentally step on them. If you leave them alone, though, they’ll return the favor.
Important Note: Copperheads have hemotoxic venom, which affects blood and tissue. Bites are rarely fatal but can cause severe pain and swelling. Always watch your step when walking through leaf litter or dense underbrush.
Northern Water Snake (Nerodia sipedon)
Often confused with the venomous cottonmouth (which is extremely rare in Southeastern KY), the northern water snake is totally non-venomous. You’ll find them along creeks, ponds, lakes, and rivers, sometimes even basking on docks or logs. Many Kentuckians will confuse these with copperheads. In fact, after 25 years of service work, I have learned that most people believe this is a copperhead, even when I tell them it isn’t!
They’re thick-bodied, dark brown or gray, and have banded or blotchy patterns that fade as they age. Though harmless, they will bite if handled and also give off that signature musky scent as a defense.
Fun Behavior: Water snakes will flatten their bodies and strike defensively when cornered, which often earns them unfair comparisons to cottonmouths or copperheads.
Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus)
This is the grandaddy of snakes in Kentucky; the biggest and most venomous! While less common than copperheads, they can be found throughout the state, excluding the northern Bluegrass region. They typically do not rattle unless provoked. Although not as common as the other four, this snake is climbing its way up the ladder in KY.
They feast on small mammals like voles, squirrels, rabbits, mice, and chipmunks. Sometimes they may catch a bird or be seen eating a reptile or amphibian. Their large size makes them a formidable foe, and caution should be used when in rattlesnake territory.
Pro Tip: If you see one, let it be, keep your distance, and don’t panic. If it’s near your home, call a professional for removal.
Respect the Scales
Snakes in Southeastern Kentucky aren’t here to scare you; they’re just doing their jobs. As ectothermic creatures (meaning they rely on external heat sources to regulate body temperature), you’ll often see them sunning themselves on rocks, driveways, or logs during cooler mornings. It’s not an ambush, it’s biology. Nevertheless, their presence can be startling and usually means you could have an underlying pest problem, a moisture problem, or your home is providing potential shelter. None of these things is ideal.
Learning to identify and understand your local snakes not only helps keep you safe but also gives you a deeper appreciation for the biodiversity right in your backyard. It also helps you decide whether you want to utilize professional pest control to remove a snake from your property or allow it to do its job.
Nonvenomous snakes, like the three mentioned above, are highly beneficial and, in most cases, should be allowed to exist on your property. The venomous ones… they’re also beneficial, but maybe not so wanted around your home. They could pose a threat, and if close to your home, they should probably be removed by a professional.
🐍 Unsure About a Snake You’ve Seen Around Your Home?
Four Seasons Pest Solutions offers professional, humane wildlife control, including safe snake removal, habitat inspections, and pest and rodent control to remove their food sources. Let us help you feel confident and safe in your own yard. Living in Kentucky may mean living with nature, but when nature creeps in your back door, we’re here to stop it!
And remember, it’s okay to live among pests… but you don’t have to live with them!
