Venomous Snakes Spotted In NJ: What To Watch Out For

NEW JERSEY — After copperhead snake sightings in two counties this summer, officials are reminding residents to be alert and aware of the venomous snake species that live in New Jersey.

Two types of venomous snakes call the Garden State home, according to the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife: The Northern Copperhead and the Timber Rattlesnake.

Copperheads have been spotted in Somerset and in Hunterdon counties this year, and officials did not report that any people or pets had been bitten.

The injured snake found in Hunterdon County around Aug. 14 was a pregnant female who later gave birth to six babies, according to the Woodlands Wildlife Refuge in Pittstown.

And on Aug. 26, police in Watchung sent out an alert that a copperhead was spotted in the borough.

No one in New Jersey has ever died from a Northern Copperhead or Timber Rattlesnake bite, officials said. From 1999 to 2023, there have been 16 reported venomous snake bite occurrences to humans in New Jersey that state Fish & Wildlife staff are aware of, officials told Patch previously. The majority of those instances, including a woman who was bitten twice last year, are from copperheads.

However, those are just the reported cases as hospitals are not required to report such incidents, nor are New Jersey doctors necessarily experienced in identifying venomous snakes or venomous snake bites.

Another 20 species of snake in the state are nonvenomous, though all snakes can bite and potentially cause injury and infection, according to health officials. However, snake bites are rare, and snakes are more likely to bite if they feel threatened.

Officials said the only reported instances of timber rattlesnake bites in the state have been from people handling the snakes. It is illegal to handle, harass, kill, injure, or collect any snakes or snake parts in New Jersey.

Spotting NJ's venomous snakes

The Division of Fish and Wildlife lists also two snakes in the state that are often misidentified as copperheads: the Northern Water Snake and the Eastern Milk Snake.

The Northern Copperhead Snake likes to live in rocky fields, berry thickets, woodlands, farmlands, and even old mulch piles. These snakes inhabit the northern portion of the state, with their territory extending into Somerset and Hunterdon counties.

Copperheads (pictured at the top of this article) have a hourglass shape pattern which is wider on the sides and narrower on the back, said wildlife experts. These snakes are two shades of copper or a reddish brown, the lighter background color with the darker pattern forming an hourglass shape, wider bands on the sides of the snake and narrower bands across the back.

The head is a solid copper color, and young copperheads have a yellow-tipped tail.

“Some segments of the pattern may be 'broken' presenting a 1⁄2 hourglass shape, but overall there will be complete lateral bands that are hourglass shaped and can be used for identification,” said NJ Fish and Wildlife.

As for Timber Rattlesnakes, the Division of Fish and Wildlife says identifying one isn’t always “as easy as it sounds.” Spotting the rattle on a snake is one thing, but many snakes also create a rattling sound to confuse predators.

Timber rattlers have a unique pattern, as well, say wildlife experts: it’s often in the shape of irregular blotches across the neck and becomes jagged, lateral bands around the body which are sometimes broken up. The Timber Rattlesnake can have a lighter yellow, brown, or tan body as well as a darker black or gray body with this pattern. And, this snake has a darker tail and no head markings.

These rattlesnakes are endangered in New Jersey, and three populations remain according to the DEP: In the north of the state along the Kittatinny Ridge and within the Highlands region, and in southern New Jersey within the Pine Barrens.

"In northern NJ, the snake is found in rocky, wooded areas and will hunt in open and dense forests," the department said. "In southern NJ, the snakes inhabit swamps and pine-oak forests, hunting in open and dense forests and occasionally basking on dirt roads."

If you see a copperhead or a rattlesnake, keep your distance and contact the NJ Fish & Wildlife snake hotline at 1-877-927-6337. Take a clear photograph from a safe distance to help wildlife officials confirm the snake's identification.

Tips to reduct the chance of getting bitten by a snake

• Eliminate mulch and compost piles
• Remove or raise potential “shelters” for snakes, such as stone piles, debris piles, firewood stacks, etc.
• Keep the lawn mowed short
• Fill crevices along walkways, stone/concrete steps, and paving stones
• Restrict access to the A/C unit
• Seal your outdoor buildings
• Wear shoes and use a flashlight when walking outside at night
• Don’t reach blindly into vegetation, firewood stacks, rock/brick piles, etc.

What to do in the case of a snake bite

If you’re hiking, camping or spending time in the woods or any other place where snakes are found, have a plan on how to get emergency medical help — a good idea any time you’re out enjoying nature.

And make sure you have a fully stocked first aid kit, including a snakebite kit. Be skeptical of consumer snakebite kits, according to the Snakebite Foundation, an international group of physicians, paramedics and scientists who treat snakebite patients.

Snake bites require immediate medical attention. After you’ve called 911, keep the person who was bitten calm and still to slow the spread of venom. Make sure the site of the bite is below the level of the heart; wash the wound with warm, soapy water; and cover the bite with a clean, dry dressing from the first aid kit.

Patch's Alexis Tarrazi contributed to this report.

Related articles

• What's Your Chance Of Being Bitten By A Venomous Snake In New Jersey?
• 2 Snakes To Know On Your Walks, Jogs And Hikes Around NJ