Species of Snakes That Are Non-Venomous

One of the most feared creatures on earth are snakes. Even small snakes could scare people, thinking they would be bitten as the snake sees them. But usually, snakes do not approach humans with the purpose of just biting – they usually attack when they are disturbed, so it’s better to just leave them alone. And if you are thinking that you might die with a snake bite, here’s the truth: The chance of it happening is only 10%-25%, because that’s how few the venomous snake species are around the world. Here are some of the common species of snakes that are non-venomous.

1. Anaconda

Anacondas are one of the biggest and heaviest of snakes in the world. There are usually around 20-30 feet and can be up to 230 kilograms heavy. They can be found in the jungles of South America and Amazon. All of its species are non-venomous and not potentially dangerous to humans, but with their size and strength, they can kill a human. They are constrictors – they coil around their prey and crush its bones so that they can swallow it easily.

2. Python

Python

Like the anacondas, pythons are one of the largest snakes. They are usually found in rainforests and deserts of Asia, Africa and Australia. Pythons are known for the way they kill their prey as most of them are ambush predators – they remain still and hide away from their prey and make a surprise attack. Pythons kill them by squeezing their prey and swallow them all at once. They usually do not attack humans unless they are provoked, but females protecting their eggs can be more aggressive. There were a number of reported python attacks on humans in South and Southeast Asia, but some pythons are even kept as pets.

Emerald Tree Boa3. Emerald Tree Boa (Corallus caninus)

Typically found in trees in the rainforests of South Africa, emerald tree boas have an exquisite green color, making them one of the most visually pleasing snakes. It looks like green tree pythons with white or yellow irregular stripes. They also have larger front teeth than any other non-venomous snakes.

4. Eastern Hognose Snake (Heterodon platirhinos)

Found in North America, the eastern hognose snake is a harmless, non-venomous snake species. This snake is commonly recognized for its snout, or hognose, as well as its ability to play dead. The hognose snake may look threatening but it is not what you think it is. They can hiss wildly like poisonous cobras when threatened, but if the predator is not scared, they will roll over and pretend to be dead. It does not also attack humans. The hognose snake is called with different names such as an adder, puff adder, deaf adder, hissing vipers and the like.

5. Bull Snake (Pituophis catenifer)

Bullsnake is a large, non-venomous snake that has brown or yellow colored body with dark spots. Also known as gopher snakes, they are commonly found in Southern US, Western Mexico, and Southwestern Canada. Snakes of this species hiss loudly at predators and they readily attack when they get disturbed. But they are not dangerous for humans because they have no venom. They eat on crop-destroying rodents, making them a friend to farmers.

Eastern Garter Snakes6. Eastern Garter Snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis)

Eastern garter snakes vary in color, ranging from dark green to black, with three yellow stripes. It is a small snake that grows up to two feet in length and is found in North America, where it is a native. The unique characteristic of its snake is it is capable to release a foul odor to escape from its predators. It can also give birth to more than 50 baby garter snakes in one birthing session. They are non-venomous and harmless, but they can cause allergic reactions to some people.

7. Rough Green Snake (Opheodrys aestivus)

Also known as the grass green snake, the rough green snake is obviously green in color, allowing them to have good camouflage in green vegetation. They are non-venomous snakes found along the Southeastern United States. They are not aggressive and do not bite humans. Rough green snakes spend most of their time on densely vegetated areas, looking for food such as grasshoppers, spiders, small frogs, and crickets.

8. Eastern Indigo Snake (Drymarchon couperi)

The eastern indigo snake is known as the largest snake native to the United States. Its length can reach up to eight and a half feet and can weigh up to ten pounds. As the name suggests, the snake has a dark indigo or bluish-black color and has some orange-red pigment on its neck and chin. They are powerful predators, but they virtually never bite humans. Indigo snakes are mostly found in tortoise burrows where they find their favorite preys such as small turtles, rats, and frogs.

9. Corn Snake (Elaphe guttata)

Corn Snake

Also known as the red rat snake, the corn snake is a very docile snake species, and some people keep them as pets. They are named as “corn snake” because they feed on rats and mice found in corn barns. They have orange skin with red, black-bordered blotches, and their belly scales have a checkerboard pattern. They are often found in Georgia and in the southern United States.

10. Black Racer (Coluber constrictor)

The black racer is a common snake in the southeastern United States. Given its name, the black racer is dark in color and is a fast mover often seen on roadways. They do not attack people, but humans remain their biggest enemy, as many are killed on highways. They are often mistaken as the eastern indigo snake, or the venomous cottonmouth, which is another reason why they get killed by people. This snake is diurnal, meaning, it hunts during the daytime. It constricts its prey and swallows it alive, rather than suffocating it to death before eating on it.