Common Snakes of Willamette Valley, Oregon

The Willamette Valley region extends through the counties of Benton, Lane, Linn, Marion, Polk and Yamhill in northwest Oregon. Of the state's 15 native snake species, five are found commonly throughout the valley.The western rattlesnake, the one venomous species found in the state, does inhabit the southern part of the valley, but it is not widespread.

  1. Northern Rubber Boa

    • The northern rubber boa lives throughout much of Oregon including the Willamette Valley. It is a medium-size snake with a stout body that grows to between 15 and 33 inches in length. The snake's smooth, loose, scaled skin has a rubbery feel to the touch, which gives the snake its name. The northern rubber boa ranges in color, and it can be dark brown, olive green, yellow, orange, and all the shades between.

    Ring-Neck Snake

    • The ring-neck snake is common in western Oregon and throughout the Willamette Valley. It is a small snake species a slender body that grows to between 10 to 18 inches in length. It is easily recognized by the ring around its neck, which is generally yellow to orange, and by its bright underbelly. The back and head of the snake tend to be dark.

    Pacific Gopher Snake

    • The pacific gopher snake ranges throughout the Willamette Valley region. It is a large snake species that grows to between 2 and 7 feet in length. It is a light-colored snake with darker blotched patterns running the length of its body, which sometimes leads to its being mistaken for a large rattlesnake. It is nonvenomous and kills its prey by constriction.

    Northwestern Garter Snake

    • The northwestern garter snake is common throughout the western half of the state. It is a medium-size snake that grows to around 3 feet in length. The northwestern garter is a slender snake with a noticeably small head. It tends to be black to dark brown in color, with stripes along its spine and sometimes its sides. The stripes can be orange, gold, blue, white or tan.

    Common Garter Snake

    • The common garter snake is found throughout almost all of Oregon except for the central regions. It is a medium-size snake that grows to around 3 feet on average. The snake varies from dark to light green in color, and it has stripes running the length of its body that can be white, blue, yellow, greenish or brown. One stripe runs along the spine, and there's a stripe on each side of the snake's body as well.