05-04-2025
Oklahoma is home to several venomous snake species. How to spot them, what to do
More than 40 species of snakes can be found in Oklahoma, but only a handful have a bite that's dangerous to humans.
Even though their bites require immediate medical attention, these snakes are more dangerous to small domestic animals like cats and dogs. Most often, bites occur by accident when a person or pet stumbles upon one as it waits for its next meal.
Humans pose a greater threat to these snakes than the snakes do to humans, so it's best to leave them alone if found outdoors.
As the weather improves and Oklahomans head back outside, here is a guide on how to identify venomous snakes like the copperhead, cottonmouth and rattlesnake.
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The copperhead name comes from the distinctive copper tone found throughout its body, but especially on its wide head. As a pit viper, its head is large and triangular-shaped compared to the rest of its body. This is caused by venom glands inside the skull.
Juvenile copperheads have a bright yellow-green tail.
Copperheads have a wide range in the Eastern United States. They can be found in central Oklahoma but the snake prefers woodlands and rocky outcroppings more common in the eastern part of the state.
In Oklahoma last year, copperhead bites accounted for nearly half of all snake-related calls, according to the Oklahoma Poison Center. There were 160 calls to the center for copperhead bites in 2024.
The cottonmouth is a mottled, dark-colored snake that can appear black, until it opens its mouth.
Known for its bright shade of white inside its mouth, the cottonmouth uses this as a flashy way of deterring threats. They're also known as water moccasins due to their frequent swimming, but they're the only Oklahoma snake that's commonly found in water.
"They are particularly common in large swamps associated with rivers, but can be common along small streams, in ponds, and even in lakes," writes the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife. "During summer, individuals often wander away from water and can be found on the forest floor."
Rattlesnakes are named for their tail rattle, which is shaken as a defense mechanism. There are five different types of rattlesnakes found in Oklahoma:
Timber rattlesnake
Western diamondback rattlesnake
Western pygmy rattlesnake
Prairie rattlesnake
Western massasauga rattlesnake
All rattlesnakes found in Oklahoma produce a powerful and dangerous venom that destroys tissue and disrupts blood clotting. Although copperheads are responsible for the most snakebites in the United States, rattlesnakes pose a greater risk of injury to humans because of their venom.
If you get bit by a venomous snake, immediately call 911 and head to the nearest emergency room. Most hospitals have antivenom drugs and can advise you on how to proceed.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, do not use a tourniquet, cut the wound or try to suck out the venom — these methods can make the situation worse.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma venomous snakes: How to spot them, what to do if you get bit
