How many species of snakes are known to live in the U.S. state of Kentucky?

At least 33 known species of snakes have now been found in the state of Kentucky. This includes four venomous species and 29 that are non-venomous types.

The four venomous snakes include the copperhead, western cottonmouth, timber rattlesnake and western pygmy rattlesnake. All belong to the sub-family Crotalinae, known as the "pit vipers". They are distinguishable by visible sensory pits on the side of their heads that detect the heat of prey.

While the bites of the four venomous snake species are quite painful, they are rarely fatal to humans. And, they only attack people when they are threatened. Concerning some of the common non-venomous species native to the state of Kentucky, they include the brown, eastern garter, milk, rat, red-belly, and ring-neck snakes. These are also considered backyard snakes in Kentucky.