Types of Snakes in Salisbury, Maryland

Salisbury is a city in southeast Maryland's Wicomico county. The city and its surrounding area offers a number of natural habitats that are suitable for 17 of Maryland's native snake species. The snakes in this area are varied in size and appearance and are mostly harmless to the local human population. One venomous species, however, is present and should be watched out for.

  1. Large Snakes

    • The natural habitats around Salisbury are home to several large species of snake. The largest is the eastern rat snake, which grows to between 42 and 72 inches but has been recorded at 101 inches in the state. The next largest species is the northern black racer, which grows to between 30 and 60 inches, but can be as large as 73 inches. The red-bellied water snake, red corn snake and eastern king snake all grow to around 48 inches on average.

    Medium-Sized Snakes

    • Some of the area's snake species are medium in length and generally grow to between 2 and 4 feet. The northern water snake grows to just under 4 feet and is sometimes mistaken for the water moccasin, which does not occur in the area. The coastal plains milk snake grows to around 3 feet in length and has a striking red, white and black banded coloring. The northern rough green snake and eastern hog-nose both grow to just under 3 feet in length. The eastern garter and common ribbon snakes both grow to just over 2 feet in length.

    Small Snakes

    • Small snakes are also common in the area, the smallest of which is the eastern smooth earth snake, which grows to between 7 and 10 inches. The northern red-bellied snake is equally as small but ranges from 8 to 10 inches on average. The eastern worm snake measures just under a foot in length, while the southern ring-neck snake grows just over a foot. The northern scarlet snake grows to just a few inches short of 2 feet in length and has a similar coloring to the coastal plains milk snake.

    Venomous Snakes

    • Residents and visitors to Salisbury walking in forested areas or near wetlands should be cautious in case they experience the northern copperhead. It is the only venomous snake found in the area, and with a brown mottled coloring is well hidden in dry forest undergrowth. It grows to 3 feet in length, has a stout body and can deliver a dangerous bite if threatened.