Snakes Found in Montana: Montana is known for its wide-open spaces and gorgeous landmarks, like the Glacier National Park, a vast reserve that extends all the way into Canada. The beauty of the park’s snow-capped peaks, lakes, and various hiking trails makes it a popular getaway for outdoor enthusiasts, with some of the most beautiful vistas in the United States.
Of course, if you are planning on hiking anywhere in the Big Sky State, you may be wondering about the local snake population and whether any of them are worth worrying about.
There are 10 snake species native to Montana, and only one — the Prairie Rattlesnake — is venomous and can be found throughout the state. Of these 10, three are Snakes Found in Montana , which are commonly kept as pets and not dangerous to humans.
The 10 Snakes Found in Montana:
Here are the 10 snake species native to Montana.
Venomous Snakes Found in Montana:
1. Prairie Rattlesnake
| Species: | Crotalis viridis |
| Longevity: | 16–20 years |
| Good to own as a pet?: | Only for experienced snake owners with lots of space |
| Legal to own?: | In most states |
| Adult size: | 35–45 inches |
| Diet: | Carnivorous |
The Prairie Rattlesnake is found throughout Montana, preferring wooded mountains and prairies. Like all other rattlesnakes, Prairies have small rings on the end of their tails that knock together to make a rattling sound. They have a flat, triangular head with a light-brown body covered in dark, oval patches with narrow white borders and a cream or pale yellow belly.
Like all vipers, they have retractable hollow fangs that they use to inject venom into their prey. They are capable of delivering a lethal bite to humans, although this is rare because they are generally not aggressive and will not attack humans unless provoked.
Water Snakes in Montana:
While there are no “true” water snake species found in Montana, Garter snakes can often be found in and around water. While they do not spend as much time in water as true water snakes, they enjoy being close to bodies of water, and in captivity, they will appreciate a small bowl to soak in.
2. Common Garter Snake
| Species: | Thamnophis sirtalis |
| Longevity: | 4–5 years (up to 10 in captivity) |
| Good to own as a pet?: | Yes |
| Legal to own?: | Yes |
| Adult size: | 23–30 inches |
| Diet: | Carnivorous |
The Common Garter Snake is a popular pet due to their docile temperament and relatively small size. Almost all will have the characteristic three yellow stripes running down the length of the body.
Garter snakes are mildly venomous, although they pose no threat to humans.
3. Western Terrestrial Garter Snake
| Species: | Thamnophis elegans |
| Longevity: | 2–3 years (6–12 in captivity) |
| Good to own as a pet?: | Yes |
| Legal to own?: | Yes |
| Adult size: | 30–40 inches |
| Diet: | Carnivorous |
The Western Terrestrial Garter Snake is a Garter snake that is commonly kept as a pet due to their diverse diet and ease of care in captivity. They will eat anything from small mammals and amphibians to birds, slugs, and even other snakes, so they should not be kept together in captivity. Most of these snakes have a large yellow or light orange stripe running down their spine, with two smaller stripes on either side, often with red or black spots between the stripes.
They are one of the most venomous of the Garter genus, although they pose no threat to humans and are not usually aggressive unless threatened.
4. Plains Garter Snake
| Species: | Thamnophis radix |
| Longevity: | 5–8 years |
| Good to own as a pet?: | Yes |
| Legal to own?: | Yes |
| Adult size: | 16–28 inches |
| Diet: | Carnivorous |
The Plains Garter is a popular beginner’s pet because it is a small, docile, and slightly venomous snake. They are regularly dark or greenish-brown, with the particular yellow dorsal stripe tracked down on all Tie snakes, frequently with two lighter stripes on one or the other side. They ordinarily feed on worms, slugs, and little creatures of land and water and may try and eat little birds on occasion.
Other Snakes Found in Montana:
5. Northern Rubber Boa
| Species: | Charina bottae |
| Longevity: | 20–30 years |
| Good to own as a pet?: | Only for experienced snake owners |
| Legal to own?: | Yes |
| Adult size: | 21–26 inches |
| Diet: | Carnivorous |
Northern Rubber Boas are popular as pets because they are docile, slow-moving snakes. However, they are difficult to care for and definitely not for beginners. They have a delicate, elastic like skin from which they get their name, with a consistently tan or dark body tone and light coward.
6. Plains Hognose Snake
| Species: | Heterodon nasicus |
| Longevity: | 10–15 years |
| Good to own as a pet?: | Yes |
| Legal to own?: | Yes |
| Adult size: | 15–25 inches |
| Diet: | Carnivorous |
They have an interesting short nose from which they get their name, with a light brown to tan body and hazier earthy colored blotches running down their back. These snakes are non-venomous and innocuous to people, are commonly not forceful, and seldom chomp.
7. Western Milk Snake
| Species: | Lampropeltis gentilis |
| Longevity: | 15–20 years |
| Good to own as a pet?: | Yes |
| Legal to own?: | Yes |
| Adult size: | 45–55 inches |
| Diet: | Carnivorous |
Often confused with the deadly Coral Snake, the Western Milk Snake is similar in appearance with alternating red, yellow, and black banding running down the length of their body. They are non-venomous and harmless to humans, though, and are generally friendly snakes that rarely bite. Their beautiful appearance and docile nature make them popular pets.
8. Gopher Snake
| Species: | Pituophis catenifer |
| Longevity: | 12–15 years (up to 30 years in captivity) |
| Good to own as a pet?: | Yes |
| Legal to own?: | Yes |
| Adult size: | 4–5 feet |
| Diet: | Carnivorous |
Gopher Snakes are non-venomous and make great pet snakes for beginners. They can be intimidating due to their long, muscular bodies, but they are rarely aggressive and are harmless to humans.
9. North American Racer
| Species: | Coluber constrictor |
| Longevity: | 8–10 years |
| Good to own as a pet?: | No |
| Legal to own?: | Yes |
| Adult size: | 20–65 inches |
| Diet: | Carnivorous |
North American Racers are slender, docile, yet incredibly fast snakes that do not enjoy handling, making them less than ideal to keep as pets. They are black or blueish black in color, with a pale grey belly and a small head.
10. Smooth Green Snake
| Species: | Opheodrys vernalis |
| Longevity: | 4–6 years |
| Good to own as a pet?: | No |
| Legal to own?: | Yes |
| Adult size: | 14–20 inches |
| Diet: | Carnivorous |
Smooth Green Snakes are small and easy to care for because they have a diet primarily consisting of small insects, spiders, and worms and do not need to be fed mice. They are typically bright, vivid green in color, with a pale green belly and small beady eyes.
Conclusion
There is only one snake species to be concerned about in Montana: the Prairie Rattlesnake. If you do decide to keep one of these snakes as a pet, make sure to always purchase one from a breeder and avoid wild-caught specimens. I hope you like reading “Snakes Found in Montana “.
