Snakes in North Dakota: identification guide and where to start looking

1. What snakes are found in North Dakota?

North Dakota hosts about 9 snake species, and only one of them, the prairie rattlesnake, is venomous. The rattlesnake is largely confined to the southwestern badlands and the Little Missouri River country, so most of the state has no venomous snakes at all. Everything else you are likely to find is harmless.

The common non-venomous species include the bullsnake, which is the longest snake in the state and the one most often mistaken for a rattler. Plains garter snakes and red-sided garter snakes are widespread and easy to recognize by their stripes. The eastern yellow-bellied racer, the western hognose, and the smooth green snake round out the grassland species, while the northern water snake and redbelly snake turn up near water and damp cover.

In North Dakota, identification gets easier when you match your first stop to the most useful ID markers and the likely lookalikes for that habitat. Use thestate wildlife huband theroute guideto narrow your first area, then check access, weather, and distance before you settle in. A short walk with one clear viewing plan often beats covering too much ground, especially when habitat shifts fast from open edges to brush, wetlands, timber, shoreline, or neighborhood cover.

2. How can you identify the most common snakes in North Dakota?

Start with three things you can see from a safe distance: head shape, body pattern, and tail. The prairie rattlesnake has a broad, blunt, triangular head, a row of dark blotches down a tan or gray-green body, and a segmented rattle at the tail tip. Nothing else in North Dakota has a true rattle.

Garter snakes are slender with a clear yellow, cream, or red stripe running down the back and along each side, so they read as striped rather than blotched. The bullsnake is heavy-bodied with dark saddles on a yellow or sandy background, a narrow head, and a pointed tail with no rattle. The yellow-bellied racer is plain olive or brown above with a smooth, fast look and a yellow belly. The western hognose has an upturned, shovel-shaped snout and a stocky body covered in keeled, ridged scales.

Belly color helps when a snake holds still. Garter snakes show a dark belly, racers show a plain yellow belly, and the hognose shows a boldly checkered or blackened underside it will flash when it plays dead. Check oursnake identification hubfor side-by-side comparisons of these patterns.

3. How do you tell the prairie rattlesnake from harmless lookalikes?

This is the identification that matters most, because the prairie rattlesnake is the only snake in North Dakota that can hurt you. Four marks separate it from every harmless snake here.

First, the rattle. A real rattle is a series of dry, interlocking keratin segments at the very tip of the tail. A bullsnake or racer can vibrate its tail fast in dead grass and sound buzzy, but there is no rattle on the end, only a plain pointed tail.

Second, the head. A rattlesnake has a wide, arrow-shaped head that is clearly broader than its neck, plus heat-sensing pits between the eye and nostril. Bullsnakes, garter snakes, racers, and hognose snakes all have narrower heads that flow more smoothly into the body.

Third, the eyes. Rattlesnakes have vertical, cat-like pupils. North Dakota's harmless snakes have round pupils, though you should never get close enough to a wild snake to check this on purpose.

Fourth, the pattern and posture. The rattlesnake's dark dorsal blotches are edged in pale scales and become tight bands near the tail. A threatened rattlesnake often coils tightly and holds its head up in an S shape. When in doubt, give any snake room and treat it as a rattlesnake until the head shape and tail clearly tell you otherwise.

4. How can you tell a prairie rattlesnake from a bullsnake?

The bullsnake is the classic North Dakota mimic, and telling the two apart is the most useful skill you can build. Bullsnakes are not venomous, but they put on a convincing show.

Look at the head and neck first. A bullsnake has a narrow head about the same width as its neck and round pupils. A rattlesnake has a broad, triangular head clearly wider than the neck and vertical pupils. Bullsnakes also have a dark line running from the eye back toward the jaw, which rattlesnakes lack.

The tail is the clincher. A bullsnake ends in a plain, tapered point and will vibrate it against grass or leaves to fake a buzz, sometimes hissing loudly through a flap in the throat. A rattlesnake ends in a true segmented rattle. If you can safely see the tail tip and there are no rattle segments, you are looking at a harmless bullsnake.

Size and pattern give extra clues. Bullsnakes are longer and more slender for their length, often reaching 5 to 6 feet, with neat dark saddles on a yellow body. Prairie rattlesnakes are usually shorter and stouter with grayer, more diffuse blotching. For a full guide on species separation, visit oursnake identification hub.

5. How do you identify a garter snake in North Dakota?

Garter snakes are the snakes most North Dakotans actually see, and they are completely harmless. The state has two common kinds, the Plains garter snake and the red-sided garter snake, and both follow the same easy pattern.

The giveaway is the stripes. A garter snake has three light stripes running the full length of the body, one down the center of the back and one along each side low on the flanks. The background between the stripes is dark, often greenish or black, sometimes with a faint checkered look. The Plains garter snake usually shows a bright yellow or orange center stripe, while the red-sided garter snake shows red or orange bars along the sides between the stripes.

Garter snakes are slender and rarely exceed about 3 feet. They have a narrow head only slightly wider than the neck, round pupils, and a dark belly. They are quick to flee toward water or cover, and if handled they may release a musky smell rather than bite. Because they are striped rather than blotched and have no rattle, they are simple to separate from a prairie rattlesnake at a glance.

6. How do you identify a racer or a hognose snake?

Two more harmless grassland snakes round out North Dakota's lineup, and each has a feature that makes it stand out.

The eastern yellow-bellied racer is the plain one. Adults are uniform olive, gray, or brown above with no blotches or stripes, a smooth glossy look, and a clean yellow belly. Racers are slim, fast, and alert, often lifting the head to watch you before they bolt. Their smooth, even color and quick movement separate them from the patterned bullsnake and the striped garter snake.

The western hognose is unmistakable once you know it. It has a sharply upturned, shovel-shaped snout it uses to dig in sandy soil, a thick body, keeled rough scales, and a row of dark blotches on a tan or sandy background. When threatened it may flatten its neck like a tiny cobra, hiss, and strike with a closed mouth. If that bluff fails it often rolls over, goes limp, and plays dead with its mouth open. Despite the drama, it is harmless to people. The upturned nose alone tells you it is a hognose and not a rattlesnake.

7. Where in North Dakota are people most likely to see snakes?

The badlands of the Little Missouri River are the top place to find prairie rattlesnakes and bullsnakes, especially near rock outcrops, prairie dog towns, and south-facing slopes. River valleys along the Missouri, Red, and James Rivers host garter snakes and the harmless northern water snake. Open prairie grasslands near sandy soil and rodent burrows are good for hognose snakes and racers.

Good starting points are Theodore Roosevelt National Park in the west for rattlesnakes and bullsnakes, and the Sheyenne National Grassland in the southeast for garter snakes and grassland species. Snakes are most active from late April through October, with spring basking in May and early June and cooler-hour activity through the heat of summer. After a rain, snakes often move to higher, drier ground.

For more on North Dakota wildlife hotspots, checkwildlife in North Dakota. See ourstate animal guidefor the next step.

8. What snake-themed gear can help you celebrate your interest?

Once you've spent time in the field, you might want to show off your herping experience. Easy Street Markets carries shirts that capture the spirit of snake observation.

Rattlesnake Graphic T-Shirt

A classic cotton tee featuring a detailed rattlesnake design, perfect for field trips and casual wear.Check Price and Availability

Green Viper Snake T-Shirt

Bold green viper graphic on a soft fabric, ideal for herpers who appreciate vivid patterns.Check Price and Availability

Retro Cute Snake T-Shirt

A playful retro snake design for a lighter take on snake appreciation.Check Price and Availability

Browse more snake-inspired apparel at ourt-shirts collection.

9. Frequently asked questions about snakes in North Dakota

**Are there water moccasins in North Dakota?** No. Water moccasins, also called cottonmouths, do not occur in North Dakota. The only semi-aquatic snakes here are garter snakes and the northern water snake, both of which are harmless and often confused for something more dangerous.

**How do I know if a snake in North Dakota is venomous?** Check for a true rattle and a broad triangular head. The prairie rattlesnake is the only venomous snake in the state, and it lives mainly in the southwestern badlands. If a snake has no rattle, it is harmless even if it hisses or shakes its tail.

**What should I do if bitten by a prairie rattlesnake?** Stay calm, remove rings and tight items near the bite, keep the bite below heart level, and seek medical help right away. Do not cut the wound, do not try to suck out venom, and do not apply ice.

**Can I keep a wild snake as a pet?** It is illegal to collect native snakes from the wild without a permit. Check current North Dakota Game and Fish Department regulations before handling any wild snake.

**Which snake is the largest in North Dakota?** The bullsnake is the longest species, reaching up to about 6 feet. It is non-venomous despite its size and its habit of hissing and faking a rattle.

See oursnake identification hubfor more side-by-side comparisons.