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While there are over 20 recognized venomous snake species in the United States and even more when subspecies are taken into account, there are four types of venomous snakes that make up the bulk of species that outdoor enthusiasts need to worry about, including rattlesnakes, copperheads, cottonmouths (also called water moccasins), and coral snakes. Georgia and Florida rank in the top snake-infested areas in the U.S., and as American neighbors, both have an equal number of snake species at 46, including the same six venomous species. These six venomous snakes include the eastern diamondback rattlesnake, the timber rattlesnake, the pygmy rattlesnake, the cottonmouth snake, the copperhead snake, and the eastern coral snake.

Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus)

Eastern diamondback rattlesnakes are the heavyweight champions of venomous snakes in the U.S., both in size and reputation. They have an easily identifiable row of black diamonds with beige borders and brown centers down their backs. They are heavy-bodied pit vipers with keeled scales (each scale has a raised ridge) and a high rostral scale on their head. Adult eastern diamondback rattlers are between 33 and 72 inches long. Regarding venom, they are considered the most dangerous in North America, with a mortality rate of nearly 30%. This is due to various toxins in their venom, which induces symptoms like severe pain and hemolysis.

Eastern diamondback rattlesnakes are native to the southeastern United States. In the Sunshine State, rattlesnakes can be found in every county, on some of the islands in the Gulf of Mexico, like the Florida Keys, and along the Gulf Islands National Seashore. In Georgia, the rattlers are typically found south of the Fall Line in the Coastal Plain in flat, sandy soils and longleaf pine forests, swamps, and marshes.

Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus)

Timber rattlesnakes are large and heavy-bodied, with a distinctive black tail earning them the nickname 鈥淰elvet Tail.鈥� Their bodies are tan or pinkish-gray in color with black chevron-like cross bands. Their heads are noticeably wider than their necks, with a telltale pit on each side of the face between the eye and the nostril. These heat-sensitive pits help the rattlesnakes locate and accurately strike at warm-blooded prey. Timber rattlesnakes grow to between 26 and 60 inches long and are sometimes mistaken for eastern diamondback rattlesnakes.

Although timber rattlesnakes have a large population in the eastern U.S., they are limited to 12 counties in the extreme northeastern Florida Panhandle, where they live in river beds, hardwood hammocks, swamps, and fields. In northern Georgia, timber rattlesnakes can be found in various habitats, such as along ridges in the Appalachian Mountains. In southern Georgia, they live in creeks and river bottoms.

Pygmy Rattlesnake (Sistrurus miliarius)

Pygmy rattlesnakes are pit vipers with chunky heads, but they are small in size with slender tails that end in a tiny, almost imperceptible rattle. Many often mistake its rattle for the sound of a buzzing insect. In the southeastern U.S. states like Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, they are also called dusky pygmy rattlesnakes (Sistrurus miliarius barbouri). The dusky subspecies is ash-gray, with dark blotches running down the back and sides, giving the rattlers a dirty or dusty appearance. They grow between 12 and 24 inches but are only about 5 inches at birth. The top of the rattlesnake鈥檚 head has nine large scales on it.

The pygmy rattlesnake is the most abundant venomous snake in Florida. It is found throughout the state, except in the Florida Keys. The rattlers prefer low-lying areas, wetlands, pine flatwoods, cypress swamps, and sandhills. In the Peach State, they are found in the northeastern, northwestern, and central portions of Georgia and are common in the Coastal Plain. Bites by these snakes are rare due to their defensive behavior, and even when they bite, they do not produce enough venom to be fatal to humans.

Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorous)

Cottonmouth snakes get their name from the white, cotton-like interior of their mouths, which they open as a warning when threatened. They are semi-aquatic snakes, comfortable in water and land, and strong swimmers. They are heavy-bodied, thick snakes with a pattern of light brown and dark brown crossbands. The pattern fades as the snake ages, so older cottonmouths tend to be all black with only a faint pattern visible. A bold facial stripe obscures the snake鈥檚 eye, and its head is covered by plate-like scales鈥攁dult cottonmouths average 30 to 48 inches in total length.

Florida cottonmouths are found throughout the state, mainly near rivers, springs, lakes, swamps, and roadside ditches. They also inhabit several islands that make up the Cedar Keys. In Georgia, they can be found almost anywhere there is water, including swamps, creeks, and lakes, but they have been spotted in the state capital of Atlanta.

Eastern Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix)

Copperheads are masters of camouflage, well-known for their ability to blend into their environment. They are thick-bodied tan or brown snakes overlaid with darker hourglass-type shapes. Their heads are distinct from their bodies, very angular and coppery colored. Like all members of the pit viper family, copperheads have a heat-sensing pit between their nostrils and eyes. Copperheads usually grow between 24 and 30 inches in length, but the largest on record is 53 inches.

The preferred habitat of copperheads is in upland pine and mixed woodlands with plenty of leaf and forest debris in which to hide, as well as in low, wet areas near swamps, stream beds, river bottoms, and damp ravines. Copperhead snakes are found only in Florida's Panhandle, mainly in the western tip and along the Apalachicola River and its tributaries. In Georgia, copperheads are the most common venomous snake and are found throughout the southeastern portion of the state. Their venom is on the weaker end compared to other snakes in the region, and bites are rarely fatal.

Eastern Coral Snake (Micrurus fulvius)

Eastern coral snakes are long, slender-bodied, and highly distinctive-looking, making them fairly easy to identify. The snakes have a series of red, black, and yellow bands encircle their bodies. The red and black bands are generally the same width and are separated by narrower yellow bands, and inspired a children鈥檚 rhyme to help distinguish the venomous snake from other North American non-venomous snakes, 鈥淩ed and yellow can kill a fellow; red and black, friend of Jack.鈥� They range in length from 20 to 36 inches. These venomous snakes are not pit vipers but belong to the Elapidae family, which also includes cobras, mambas, and sea snakes.

Eastern coral snakes are found in every county in Florida and on Key Largo in the northern Florida Keys. They thrive in diverse habitats, ranging from dry, well-drained flatwoods and scrub areas to low, wet hammocks and the edges of swamps. Secretive by nature, they often hide beneath debris and loose soil, with woodpiles and rotting logs as preferred spots. They prefer well-drained sandy soil in Georgia and do not tolerate low-lying areas with wet soil.

Florida For the Win

Florida and Georgia both host a remarkable diversity of venomous snakes, with each state boasting 46 species, including six shared venomous varieties. However, estimating which state has the most venomous snakes is challenging due to various factors, including a snake鈥檚 elusive nature, fear of humans, and ability to blend into their surroundings. Environmental factors also come into play, influencing snake diversity and density, habitat destruction, and climate change, making comparisons even more difficult. While Georgia also offers varied habitats, Florida鈥檚 extensive wetlands, tropical regions, and subtropical climate create an ideal environment for a wider distribution of these species. This expansive range suggests that Florida may slightly outpace Georgia as a hotspot for venomous snakes, but as venomous hotspots go, it鈥檚 close.