Welcome to jacksonvillesnakes.com! I am David, a snake enthusiast living in Jacksonville, FL. Many people don't know that Jacksonville is in fact full of snakes! You just need to know where to find them - they can often be shy and elusive. Some Florida snake species are more common outside of the city limits, in different parts of Duval County FL, but many types of snakes are indeed common in the more urban parts of Jacksonville. This guide is meant to help educate you about the beautiful snakes of Jacksonville, and to help you identify the most common snakes of Jacksonville, as well as the venomous snakes of Jacksonville that you should learn to recognize and avoid. If you want more detail, click here for my complete list of ALL snake species in Jacksonville. Remember the following:

Common Snake Species in Jacksonville

Coral Snake: A snake commonly found throughout Florida is the coral snake -which comes in the colors red, yellow, and black. Reaching up to 30 inches as an adult, this snake is also often mistaken for the harmless king snake mainly because they have similar marks on them. One way to tell them apart is that the snout of a coral snake is black, while that of a king snake is red.





Water Moccasin: Water moccasins live in various areas of Florida. Their color varies as they get older, going from a banded reddish brown to a darker shade or sometimes black.Because of their color, they are easily confused with non-venomous water snakes -especially when the water snakes are hanging over trees.






Black Racer: One of the frequently encountered snakes in Florida is the black racer, which is non-venomous. Instead of attacking threats, they tend to flee with the help of their natural agility. What makes them easy to identify is their build and color. They are rather slender in appearance and have black upper parts with a white chin and belly. Younger black racers, however, are usually patterned in the colors rust and gray. They are commonly located in suburban or grassy areas, usually near water, but can sometimes be found in the city as well.



Garter Snake: In Florida, garter snakes are rather common. Sometimes, they are even kept in homes as pets because they are relatively harmless. Although they aren’t venom free, they aren’t dangerous to humans either. Their name comes from the appearance of their stripes -which resemble garters men use to hold up their socks. They come in a variety of colors but are identifiable through their three stripes; in the center of the back and on each lower side of the body.

Venomous Snake Species in Jacksonville

Eastern Diamond Rattlesnake: This type of snake is known as one of the largest, most dangerous, and most feared venomous snakes in the area of Florida. Although they are not endangered, their habitat is indeed a threat to them. One thing to note when you come across this species is the distance from which they can strike. Reaching up to 72 inches long, they can attack within a distance of 4 feet. They have a series of brown diamonds with yellowish borders that go down their back. Having vivid colors and rather big in length makes them the venomous snake that’s easiest to identify.



Pygmy Rattlesnake: Another venomous species is the pygmy rattlesnake. In appearance, they are grayish in color with dark blotches on their back. While they are rather shorter than other snake species, they do tend to fight. Although their bites inflict pain and would call for proper treatment, it’s not anything life-threatening. This venomous snake is a species that is commonly encountered around the area.

If you're unsure, you can email me a photo of the snake at info@jacksonvillesnakes.com and I will email you back with the snake's species. If you found a snake skin, read my Found a Skin? page, and you can email me a photo of the skin, and I'll identify the snake for you. If you need professional Jacksonville snake removal help, click my Get Help page, or see the below website sponsor I found, who provides that service.



Remember, the term is not poisonous snakes of Jacksonville, it's venomous snakes of Jacksonville. Poison is generally something you eat, and venom is injected into you. That said, dangerous snakes are very rare in Jacksonville. The few venomous snakes of Duval County are rarely seen. But they are commonly misidentified, so learn about all the snake species of Jacksonville in order to correctly identify them. These snakes are usually also found in the surrounding towns of Jacksonville Beach, Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, Baldwin, Callahan, Nocatee, Sampson, Orange Park, Lawtey, and the surrounding areas.

Read our article about:
A Complete Guide on Coral Snakes

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