Types of Snake in Alaska
No, there are no snake species in Alaska. Alaska is the only U.S. state with zero native snakes, and none have established a wild population. The handful of snakes ever found in the state were escaped or released pet snakes, not wild animals. If you are searching for the kinds of snakes in Alaska, the honest answer is that the list is empty. This guide explains why, what people actually see and mistake for snakes, and how to tell a real snake from a lookalike if you ever encounter one near a port town.
By Tim, founder of Easy Street Markets. I maintain the wildlife database and verify every animal and source myself. Updated June 25, 2026.
Alaska has one main kind of snake. Below are the related species here that people most often mistake for it.
Real sighting data, source iNaturalist
Only 0 verified observations on iNaturalist of snake have been logged in Alaska, which fits how rare they are in the state. That low number is itself the most honest answer to whether you are likely to see one here.
No, there are no snake species in Alaska. Alaska is the only U.S. state with zero native snakes, and none have established a wild population. The handful of snakes ever found in the state were escaped or released pet snakes, not wild animals. If you are searching for the kinds of snakes in Alaska, the honest answer is that the list is empty. This guide explains why, what people actually see and mistake for snakes, and how to tell a real snake from a lookalike if you ever encounter one near a port town.
1. What types of snakes live in Alaska?
None. There are no snake species living in Alaska, native or established. Every U.S. state south of Alaska has at least one resident snake, but Alaska has zero. The only snakes ever recorded in the state were individual escaped or released captive pets, such as a ball python or a garter snake that someone had brought up from the lower 48. These lone animals do not breed, do not survive the winter outdoors, and do not form populations. So when people ask which kinds or species of snakes live in Alaska, the accurate answer is that there are none to list. Any "snake" found loose in Alaska is a former pet, not part of the local fauna.
2. Why are there no snakes in Alaska?
Snakes are cold-blooded reptiles that rely on outside heat to warm their bodies, digest food, and develop eggs or young. Alaska simply does not provide enough of that heat. Summers are short and cool, with too few warm days for a snake to grow or reproduce. Winters are long and bitterly cold, and snakes have no way to survive months of subfreezing temperatures without deep, frost-free dens, which Alaska's permafrost and frozen ground largely deny them. On top of the climate, Alaska is cut off by water, ice, and vast cold terrain from the regions where snakes live, so there was never a natural land route for snakes to reach it after the last ice age. Cold climate plus no colonization path equals no snakes.
3. Could a wild snake population ever start in Alaska?
It is very unlikely under current conditions. For a population to take hold, snakes would need to survive winter, find mates, and successfully raise young across multiple years. Alaska's winters kill exposed reptiles, and there are not enough warm summer days for eggs to incubate or juveniles to fatten up before the cold returns. Even if a few pet snakes were released in the same area, they would almost certainly die over winter rather than establish a breeding group. Some people wonder whether a warming climate could change this. In the near term it stays improbable, because the deep winter cold and shortage of suitable hibernation sites remain the main barriers, not just average temperature. For now, Alaska remains snake-free in the wild.
4. What do people in Alaska mistake for snakes?
Because real snakes are absent, almost every "snake" report in Alaska turns out to be something else. The most common mix-ups involve fish and fish-like animals in or near water. Pacific lampreys have a long, eel-shaped body and can look snakelike, but they have no scales, a round sucking mouth, and gill openings along the side. Eels and the Alaska blackfish have visible fins, which no snake has. On land, a long worm, a piece of root, or even a strip of shed material can fool the eye at a glance. The quick test is simple. A true snake has dry, overlapping scales, no fins, no gill slits, no sucker mouth, and a forked tongue. If the animal has fins or breathes through gills, it is a fish, not a snake.
5. How do you tell a real snake from a lookalike in Alaska?
Since you will not find a wild native snake, the goal is to rule a snake in or out if you spot something long and legless. Check the skin first. Snakes are covered in dry scales, while lampreys and eels have smooth, slimy, scaleless skin. Look for fins. Any fin along the back, sides, or tail means it is a fish. Look at the head and mouth. A snake has a clear head with jaws and a flicking forked tongue, while a lamprey has a round disc-like mouth and an eel has fish lips. Finally, look for gill openings, the small slits behind the head that fish and lampreys use to breathe and snakes never have. If you photograph the animal, those four features, scales, fins, mouth shape, and gills, are usually enough to identify it without touching it.
6. Where do the rare Alaska snake reports come from?
The few snake encounters logged in Alaska tend to happen in and around Southeast Alaska towns like Juneau, Ketchikan, and Sitka, and they are tied to people rather than habitat. These are port communities with ferries, cargo, and steady travel from the lower 48, so an occasional pet snake gets loose or is deliberately released near a campground, a dock, or a yard. None of these animals represent a wild population, and away from the coast, especially north of the Alaska Range, the country is far too cold for a snake to last. So the pattern is human-linked and coastal, which is exactly what you would expect from escaped pets and not from a species that actually lives there.
See ourstate animal guidefor the next step.
7. Where can you learn more about Alaska's reptiles and amphibians?
Alaska's cold-blooded wildlife is short. The state has no native snakes, no native lizards, and only a small number of amphibians such as the wood frog, which survives winter by partly freezing and thawing in spring. For a broader look at Alaska's wildlife, visit ourAlaska wildlife hub. You can also explore general snake information on oursnake identification pageto see the species that live in warmer states, which helps explain why none of them reach this far north. If you are curious about animals you can actually see in Alaska, ourdeerandfoxguides cover species with established populations.
8. Show your appreciation for snakes with wildlife apparel
Even though snakes are rare in Alaska, you can still celebrate them. Check out these snake-themed shirts from Easy Street Markets:
Rattlesnake Graphic T-Shirt
This bold rattlesnake design works well for both snake lovers and those who appreciate striking wildlife art. Durable print on a comfortable cotton blend.Check Price and Availability
Green Viper Snake T-Shirt
A vivid viper illustration that captures the intensity of a real snake encounter. Great for herpetology fans.Check Price and Availability
Retro Cute Snake T-Shirt
For a lighter take, this retro style turns snakes into a playful motif. Soft fabric for everyday wear.Check Price and Availability
Browse all snake shirts at ourT-shirts category.
9. Frequently asked questions about snakes in Alaska
**Are there any snakes in Alaska at all?** No. Alaska has no native or established snakes, and it is the only U.S. state where snakes are completely absent from the wild fauna. The only snakes ever found were escaped or released pets.
**Are there any venomous snakes in Alaska?** No, Alaska has no venomous snakes, native or established. With no wild snakes of any kind, there is nothing to fear from a snakebite outdoors.
**Is the garter snake native to Alaska?** No. Garter snakes live across much of the lower 48, but they are not native to Alaska and have no breeding population there. Any garter snake found in Alaska was carried in by people.
**Can you own a pet snake in Alaska?** Yes, you can legally keep many non-native pet snakes such as ball pythons or corn snakes, but they must stay indoors year-round because they cannot survive Alaska's outdoor winters.
**What should I do if I see a snake in Alaska?** Take a photo from a safe distance and report it to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Because wild snakes do not occur here, the state tracks sightings to catch any released pets early.
See ourtour planning ideasfor the next step.
Gear and field guides
Frequently asked questions
1. What types of snakes live in Alaska?+
None. There are no snake species living in Alaska, native or established. Every U.S. state south of Alaska has at least one resident snake, but Alaska has zero. The only snakes ever recorded in the state were individual escaped or released captive pets, such as a ball python or a garter snake that someone had brought up from the lower 48. These lone animals do not breed, do not survive the winter outdoors, and do not form populations. So when people ask which kinds or species of snakes live in Alaska, the accurate answer is that there are none to list. Any "snake" found loose in Alaska is a former pet, not part of the local fauna.
2. Why are there no snakes in Alaska?+
Snakes are cold-blooded reptiles that rely on outside heat to warm their bodies, digest food, and develop eggs or young. Alaska simply does not provide enough of that heat. Summers are short and cool, with too few warm days for a snake to grow or reproduce. Winters are long and bitterly cold, and snakes have no way to survive months of subfreezing temperatures without deep, frost-free dens, which Alaska's permafrost and frozen ground largely deny them. On top of the climate, Alaska is cut off by water, ice, and vast cold terrain from the regions where snakes live, so there was never a natural land route for snakes to reach it after the last ice age. Cold climate plus no colonization path equals no snakes.
3. Could a wild snake population ever start in Alaska?+
It is very unlikely under current conditions. For a population to take hold, snakes would need to survive winter, find mates, and successfully raise young across multiple years. Alaska's winters kill exposed reptiles, and there are not enough warm summer days for eggs to incubate or juveniles to fatten up before the cold returns. Even if a few pet snakes were released in the same area, they would almost certainly die over winter rather than establish a breeding group. Some people wonder whether a warming climate could change this. In the near term it stays improbable, because the deep winter cold and shortage of suitable hibernation sites remain the main barriers, not just average temperature. For now, Alaska remains snake-free in the wild.
4. What do people in Alaska mistake for snakes?+
Because real snakes are absent, almost every "snake" report in Alaska turns out to be something else. The most common mix-ups involve fish and fish-like animals in or near water. Pacific lampreys have a long, eel-shaped body and can look snakelike, but they have no scales, a round sucking mouth, and gill openings along the side. Eels and the Alaska blackfish have visible fins, which no snake has. On land, a long worm, a piece of root, or even a strip of shed material can fool the eye at a glance. The quick test is simple. A true snake has dry, overlapping scales, no fins, no gill slits, no sucker mouth, and a forked tongue. If the animal has fins or breathes through gills, it is a fish, not a snake.
5. How do you tell a real snake from a lookalike in Alaska?+
Since you will not find a wild native snake, the goal is to rule a snake in or out if you spot something long and legless. Check the skin first. Snakes are covered in dry scales, while lampreys and eels have smooth, slimy, scaleless skin. Look for fins. Any fin along the back, sides, or tail means it is a fish. Look at the head and mouth. A snake has a clear head with jaws and a flicking forked tongue, while a lamprey has a round disc-like mouth and an eel has fish lips. Finally, look for gill openings, the small slits behind the head that fish and lampreys use to breathe and snakes never have. If you photograph the animal, those four features, scales, fins, mouth shape, and gills, are usually enough to identify it without touching it.
6. Where do the rare Alaska snake reports come from?+
The few snake encounters logged in Alaska tend to happen in and around Southeast Alaska towns like Juneau, Ketchikan, and Sitka, and they are tied to people rather than habitat. These are port communities with ferries, cargo, and steady travel from the lower 48, so an occasional pet snake gets loose or is deliberately released near a campground, a dock, or a yard. None of these animals represent a wild population, and away from the coast, especially north of the Alaska Range, the country is far too cold for a snake to last. So the pattern is human-linked and coastal, which is exactly what you would expect from escaped pets and not from a species that actually lives there. See ourstate animal guidefor the next step.
7. Where can you learn more about Alaska's reptiles and amphibians?+
Alaska's cold-blooded wildlife is short. The state has no native snakes, no native lizards, and only a small number of amphibians such as the wood frog, which survives winter by partly freezing and thawing in spring. For a broader look at Alaska's wildlife, visit ourAlaska wildlife hub. You can also explore general snake information on oursnake identification pageto see the species that live in warmer states, which helps explain why none of them reach this far north. If you are curious about animals you can actually see in Alaska, ourdeerandfoxguides cover species with established populations.
Keep exploring
More places to see snake
More wildlife in Alaska