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Washington has “a dozen or so” snake species, according to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). This guide covers 11 selected species: three garter snakes, the gopher snake, night snake, western racer, western rattlesnake, ring-necked snake, common sharp-tailed snake, California mountain kingsnake, and northern rubber boa. They occupy habitats ranging from coastal forests and wet meadows to eastern deserts and open grassland.
Only the western rattlesnake is capable of delivering a venomous bite in Washington. Every snake should still be left alone. WDFW recommends observing from at least six feet away, never handling or relocating a wild snake, and allowing it a clear route to leave.
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What snakes are found in Washington state?
The 11 species below are an editorial selection, not a complete official inventory. WDFW uses the phrase “a dozen or so” for Washington’s snakes, and its species accounts include rare, localized, or poorly documented animals. The desert striped whipsnake, for example, is another localized Washington species outside this selected list.
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| Species | Broad habitat or region | General appearance and behavior | How likely you are to encounter it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Common garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis) | Coastal and mountain forests, wet meadows, areas near water, and sagebrush desert | Lengthwise stripes; gray-blue underside; considerable individual variation | One of the more common Washington snakes |
| Western terrestrial garter snake (Thamnophis elegans) | Widespread across varied habitats | Gray-brown to black, with stripes and small spots; color varies by individual and subspecies | Widespread, but identification can be difficult |
| Northwestern garter snake (Thamnophis ordinoides) | Coastal and mountain forests, parks, and suburban areas | Slender, with stripes that can differ in color | Possible around forested neighborhoods and parks |
| Gopher snake (Pituophis catenifer) | Warm, dry desert, grassland, and open woodland | Robust, blotched pattern; may coil, hiss, strike, and vibrate its tail defensively | Often seen in suitable eastern and dry habitats; frequently mistaken for a rattlesnake |
| Night snake (Hypsiglena torquata) | Similar warm, dry habitat in eastern Washington | Limited public detail; generally elusive and rarely seen | Uncommon encounter |
| Western racer (Coluber constrictor) | Warm, dry, open or brushy country | Slender and fast-moving; often observed crossing roads | Visible when active, but quick to disappear |
| Western rattlesnake (Crotalus oreganus) | Dry areas, especially eastern Washington | Heavy body, patterned scales, facial pits, and a rattle | Important safety concern in rattlesnake country; do not approach |
| Ring-necked snake (Diadophis punctatus) | Washington locations are not well established | Current status and seasonal activity may vary by location and year | Elusive; abundance and distribution should not be assumed |
| Common sharp-tailed snake (Contia tenuis) | Patchy, localized known distribution | Small, secretive snake; habitat and inventory concerns remain | Rarely encountered by the general public |
| California mountain kingsnake (Lampropeltis zonata) | Localized native Washington habitat | Harmless; banded appearance can superficially resemble a coral snake | Uncommon and not a snake to approach for a closer look |
| Northern rubber boa (Charina bottae) | Washington habitats documented by WDFW | WDFW’s public species reference provides limited descriptive detail | Encounter rates and range should be treated cautiously |
Which Washington snake is venomous?
The western rattlesnake is the only Washington snake WDFW identifies as capable of inflicting a venomous bite. That fact does not make every rattling or patterned snake a rattlesnake. Nonvenomous species can use startling displays that look dangerous, and color alone is not a dependable identification method.
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Western rattlesnakes have a rattle, a relatively heavy body, facial heat-sensing pits, and a patterned body. Those clues are useful when viewed from a safe distance, but they are not reasons to move closer. A rattlesnake may bite when harassed, handled, or stepped on. Treat any unidentified snake as a wild animal and give it room.
How can you tell a rattlesnake from a gopher snake?
Gopher snakes are nonvenomous constrictors, yet their blotched pattern and defensive behavior often cause confusion. A gopher snake may coil, flatten or raise its head, strike, hiss loudly, and vibrate its tail. In dry vegetation, that display can look and sound much like a rattlesnake.
A rattle and facial pits are clues associated with a western rattlesnake, while the gopher snake lacks venom and does not have a true rattle. However, a broken or hidden rattle, a vibrating tail, poor lighting, and a rapidly moving animal can make a field judgment unreliable. Never test the distinction by approaching, blocking the snake, or trying to photograph its head. If safety depends on the identification, leave the area and contact an appropriate wildlife or emergency authority.
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The three garter snakes of Washington
Garter snakes are among the snakes people most often notice around gardens, parks, water, and forest edges. Washington’s three species can look alike. WDFW notes that accurate identification may require several traits, including scales, color, and pattern; a single stripe or a single photograph is not enough for certainty.
Common garter snake
The common garter snake is one of Washington’s common snakes. It occurs in settings as different as coastal and mountain forests, wet meadows, areas near water, and sagebrush desert. Lengthwise stripes and a gray-blue underside can help narrow an identification, but individuals vary. A striped snake in a yard is not automatically this species, and the same general pattern can occur in other garter snakes.
Western terrestrial garter snake
The western terrestrial garter snake is widespread across varied habitats. WDFW describes a gray-brown to black snake with stripes and small spots. Color differences among subspecies and individuals make casual identification challenging, especially when the animal is partly hidden in vegetation. Habitat, pattern, and detailed scale characteristics should be considered together.
Northwestern garter snake
The northwestern garter snake is more associated with coastal and mountain forests than the dry interior, although it also occurs in suburban settings and parks. It is slender and may show stripes in different colors. A park or backyard sighting can therefore involve a northwestern garter snake, but a reliable determination still requires more than body color.
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Gopher snake
Gopher snakes favor warm, dry habitats such as deserts, grasslands, and open woodland. Their robust build and blotched pattern contribute to the rattlesnake confusion. The defensive sequence—coiling, striking, hissing, and tail vibration—is an attempt to discourage a threat, not evidence that the snake is venomous.
Give a gopher snake the same space you would give any wild snake. Nonvenomous does not mean harmless to handle: a frightened animal can bite, and handling creates unnecessary stress for the snake and risk for the person. Let it move away without interference.
Night snake
The night snake is rarely seen. WDFW places it in eastern Washington habitat similar to that used by gopher snakes, but its public overview provides limited detail. Its name should not be interpreted as a guarantee that it will only be active after dark; local conditions and season affect when any snake is visible. Treat an unfamiliar small snake as unidentified rather than trying to confirm this species at close range.
Western racer
The western racer occurs in warm, dry, open or brushy country. It is slender and can move quickly; WDFW notes that people often see one crossing a road. A racer may vanish before an observer can obtain a useful photograph, so do not chase it or stand in its path. Pull over safely if driving, and allow the snake to cross.
Other selected Washington species
Western rattlesnake
Western rattlesnakes are Washington’s venomous-snake safety concern. Look for the combination of a rattle, heavy body, facial pits, and patterned scales only from a safe distance. A rattle can be difficult to hear in wind, traffic, or thick vegetation, so silence is not proof that a snake is harmless.
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In areas where rattlesnakes occur, WDFW recommends awareness, thick hiking shoes, keeping dogs leashed, and keeping small children nearby. Do not place hands into rock piles, logs, brush, or holes that you cannot see into. If a snake is on a trail, wait for it to move or choose another route rather than trying to move it.
Ring-necked snake
WDFW says little is known about the ring-necked snake’s current status in Washington. Seasonal activity may vary by location and year, so its presence should not be described as widespread or predictable. A lack of sightings does not establish that the species is absent, and a single sighting does not show that it is common in a particular neighborhood.
Common sharp-tailed snake
The common sharp-tailed snake has a patchy known distribution. WDFW highlights habitat concerns and the need for more inventory, making it an especially poor candidate for confident identification from a quick roadside view. Consider it an elusive, localized species rather than a routine garden snake.
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The California mountain kingsnake is native to Washington and harmless. Its banded appearance can superficially resemble a coral snake, but resemblance is not a safe reason to approach for a closer look. Observe from a distance and rely on an official identification resource or qualified expert if the distinction matters.
Northern rubber boa
The northern rubber boa is included among Washington’s snake species in WDFW material. The public species reference available for this overview provides limited descriptive detail, so claims about its exact appearance, range, or encounter rate should remain restrained. Do not handle a snake to confirm whether it is a rubber boa.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What should you do if you see a snake?
- Stop and create space. Stay at least six feet away, as WDFW recommends. Keep children close and call dogs back to you.
- Do not touch or corner it. Do not pick up, pin, move, or kill a snake. WDFW’s education guidance is direct: “Don’t pick up a snake if you don’t know what it is!”
- Give it an escape route. Step back and wait. If the snake is on a trail, road, doorway, or other route you must use, choose another path or wait until it leaves rather than attempting a relocation.
- Use distance, not body shape, for identification. Do not rely on head shape, a single color, one stripe, or a blurry photograph. Garter snakes can require examination of scales, color, and pattern, and defensive gopher snakes can mimic rattlesnakes.
- Escalate only when there is an immediate hazard. If a rattlesnake is creating an immediate danger to people or pets, move everyone away and contact local emergency or wildlife authorities for guidance. Do not attempt removal yourself.
WDFW states that snakes should be left alone and that, except for a rattlesnake posing an immediate danger to people or pets, no snake should be killed. This approach protects people, pets, and species that may be rare or localized.
Why a photo may not be enough
Washington snakes vary in color and pattern within the same species, while different species can share the same broad appearance. Lighting, distance, motion blur, and the angle of a photograph further reduce confidence. A field guide to western reptiles and amphibians can help organize observations, but it does not make close contact or handling appropriate.
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Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteWhen asking for help with an identification, record the county or general area, habitat, date, approximate time, and behavior from a safe distance. Avoid collecting the snake or transporting it. For a bite, seek emergency medical care immediately and do not delay treatment while trying to identify the animal.
How habitat changes what you are likely to see
Habitat is a useful first filter, not a final identification. Coastal and mountain forests, wet meadows, parks, and suburban edges are more consistent with garter-snake observations. Warm, dry deserts, grasslands, brush, and open woodland in eastern Washington are where gopher snakes, racers, night snakes, and western rattlesnakes are more relevant. Localized or poorly documented species such as the ring-necked snake and common sharp-tailed snake cannot be ruled in or out from habitat alone.
Washington’s variety of landscapes explains why a list of 11 does not describe one “typical” state snake. The same county can contain different species across a wetland, a forest edge, a rocky slope, and a developed neighborhood. Use habitat to decide where to look from a distance, never as permission to search under objects or handle wildlife.
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