How many types of snakes are there in NJ? Your guide to the local population
Some people keep them as pets, and others turn away screaming just at the sight of one. Snakes are slithering reptiles found almost everywhere in the world, including your backyard.
New Jersey is home to around 20 snake species, depending on whether subspecies are counted, scattered across the state. The most commonly seen is the eastern garter snake, which occasionally hibernates under house siding.
The snake, scientifically called Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis, can grow to around 52 inches long, with colors including olive, brown and black. Three stripes that typically run from head to tail often appear yellow but also can look green or blue.
Additional species that residents often see across the state are the northern water snake, eastern milk snake, black rat snake, northern black racer and northern brown snake. Suburban areas will likely come across only the last three, though many other kinds can be found in wooded, sandy and wetland areas.
The complete list of native snakes in New Jersey is on the Division of Fish and Wildlife website here.
Most species are limited to the state's southern region, but North Jersey has a couple of its own unique snake populations. The smooth green snake, Opheodrys vernalis, has a small frame that frequently blends in with grass because of its mostly green body.
Its seemingly friendly face and low aggression to humans makes it an ideal pet for some people. Before picking one up from your garden, though, be aware that the smooth green snake can be difficult to feed and handle, so it is not recommended for beginners, according to AZ Animals.
The other North Jersey exclusive species is a snake you would want nowhere near your home. Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen, the northern copperhead, is one of the two venomous snakes found in New Jersey.
Though it is rarely seen, its territory ranges from the Sourlands in Hunterdon, Mercer and Somerset counties to the Palisades in Bergen County and the New York-New Jersey border.
Spotting one can be tricky, as its reddish-brown or copper scales can make an excellent camouflage in forested areas and among leaves. Being bitten can certainly bring a shock, but nobody has ever died from a copperhead bite, the state Division of Fish and Wildlife reported.
Robert Zappalorti, executive director of environmental consultants Herpetological Associates, said it is rare to come across a venomous snake. He said a bite could be lethal, depending on the sizes of the snake and human and the amount of venom injected.
"Some people think that snakes are very aggressive, which they're not," Zappalorti said. "They'd rather just be left alone or get away."
There is another venomous snake lurking in Garden State backyards: the timber rattlesnake, Crotalus horridus.
Like the northern copperhead, this reptile has never been known to kill a human in New Jersey. However, it will defend itself if threatened. Northern and southern residents should be wary, as its habitat spans the Kittatinny Ridge in the northwest and the Pine Barrens covering South Jersey.
The timber rattlesnake is a state endangered species and has a declining population, like most of the other species. Zappalorti said new developments including roads lead to many snakes being run over or losing their habitat.
Illegal collectors are also a problem. Zappalorti said snakes are taken straight from the wild and kept as pets, harming the native population. It is illegal to kill, collect or harass any snake species in New Jersey because of the Endangered and Nongame Species Conservation Act, which protects all the slithery reptiles.
"Some people will mess with them or kill them or try to see if it's a rattlesnake," Zappalorti said. "That's when they end up getting bitten."
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Snakes in NJ: What to know about types and the venomous ones
