If you find snakes on your property or plan to go snake hunting, you might wonder if it’s legal or illegal to kill snakes in your state. Well, there are federal and state laws protecting snakes. You need to know these laws and rules before you make the decision to kill a snake in your state.
Threatened snakes are protected by the Endangered Species Act 1973. Killing these snake species is illegal. Most states regulate snake hunting and designate snakes as non-game animals, or impose strict bag limits on snakes. Snake killing laws also vary by U.S. state.
We’ll start by explaining how the Endangered Species Act 1973 is enforced at a state level. Then, we’ll look more closely at each state’s laws on killing venomous and nonvenomous snakes.
There are 4 protected snakes by the Arizona Game and Fish Department. These are the ridgenosed, twin spotted, rock, and massasauga rattlesnakes. If you kill any one of these snakes, you could face a fine or prison time.
It’s legal to kill other species of rattlesnake (not the massasauga rattlesnake) in Arizona, as long as you possess a valid hunting license. If you hunt without one, you could be charged with violating hunting laws.
There are laws in Arizona that make it illegal to kill snakes in certain circumstances. For example, it’s illegal to fire a weapon within city limits (or into those city limits from the outside). There are exemptions:
So, if you were to shoot a snake outside of these exemptions, you could be charged under the law. Here is some in-depth information on venomous snakes that live in Arizona.
It’s illegal to kill any snake unless they “pose reasonable threat or endangerment to persons or property.” According to AL.com, a man killed a rattlesnake when it attacked his dog. He was within his rights to do so because it was threatening his property.
However, if you kill a snake for no reason, this would be considered to be illegal. And under the state’s General Regulations, they aren’t permitted to be hunted. Only animals that have a specified open season in the Arkansas Hunting Guidebook can be hunted legally. Snakes aren’t included.
In California, the legal status of capturing or killing snakes is clear and codified. According to the 2018 – 2019 Freshwater Sport Fishing Regulations, open season is all year round. Most species of snake can legally be hunted.
There are 6 species of rattlesnake in California, none of which are considered endangered. It is legal to capture or kill 2 snakes of any species at once. You can do so without needing a license (Fish and Game Code, section 7149.3).
The only rattlesnake that is protected is the red diamond rattlesnake, Crotalus ruber. Other snakes are also protected. For example, the San Francisco garter snake and giant garter snake are protected by the ESA.
It is legal to kill a rattlesnake, provided that it is a threat to your life or property. The method you use to kill them must comply with city and county ordinances. For example, it’s illegal to shoot a snake if it’s illegal to fire a gun within city limits.
However, all other snakes in Colorado are considered nongame wildlife. This means that they are protected by law, as are all other kinds of nongame wildlife. Hunting snakes is punishable as a misdemeanor.
As they aren’t specified under C.R.S.A. § 33-6-109, the most you would receive is a $50 fine and five hunting license suspension points.
There are 14 species of snake in Connecticut, of which just 2 are venomous. These are the timber rattlesnake and the copperhead.
The timber rattlesnake is endangered, and is a protected species. There are 4 snakes classed as species of particular concern, including:
These snakes, as well as many other animals, are protected under the Connecticut Endangered Species Act (1989). Taking or killing an animal listed in this act could result in legal action.
The Delaware Code doesn’t offer protection to snakes. Title 7, Conservation: Game, Wildlife and Dogs, Ch. 7, Subchapter VI (Other Game and Fish) lists nongame species. It also regulates how certain species should be hunted, including raccoons, opossums, deer, and foxes.
However, there’s no mention of snakes. The code regulates whether exotic snakes can be kept, but says nothing about killing native species.
Only federal laws apply. In Delaware, native corn snakes, eastern scarlet snakes, and redbelly watersnakes are considered endangered. They’re protected by the ESA, but all other snakes are fair game.
Several snake species are endangered or threatened. These include:
The eastern indigo snake is a protected ESA species. According to the Center for Biological Diversity, 2 snakes are being considered for inclusion. These are the Florida pine snake and the short-tailed snake. Even so, they currently have no protection.
There are also non-native species that are currently colonizing Florida, particularly the Everglades. The Burmese python is taking over the area. This has resulted in large-scale destruction of the habitat and decimation of local species. It’s legal to hunt these snakes.
Georgia has quite strict laws when it comes to snakes. It’s illegal even to keep native nonvenomous snakes as pets without a permit, let alone kill them. Killing any nonvenomous snake is unlawful.
If you do kill a nonvenomous snake, you risk a $1,000 fine and up to a year in jail (O.C.G.A. 27-1-28—Taking of non-game species).
It’s still legal to kill venomous snakes. Nonvenomous snakes in Georgia are listed under the ESA. You can kill any native venomous snake.
The bimini blind snake and the yellow-bellied sea snake are found on or around the island. Neither of these species is endangered or protected.
It is illegal to import or own any snake in the state of Hawaii. There are fines of up to $200,000.
In Idaho, you can kill rattlesnakes and other protected nongame species when your safety or property are threatened.
There are no endangered or threatened snake species in Idaho. According to the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, you can trap 4 snakes of any species without a hunting license.
There are many threatened and endangered snakes in Illinois, including:
The eastern massasauga rattlesnake is the only one protected by the ESA. Under (510 ILCS 68/) Herptiles-Herps Act, killing any non-threatened or endangered snake is legal on your land.
In Indiana, you cannot kill, harm or take any snake from the wild without a permit.
With a hunting or fishing license, you can capture 4 of any non-endangered or non-threatened species. The federal laws about endangered and threatened species also apply. In Indiana, these are the copperbelly water snake and the massasauga rattlesnake.
In Iowa, the only federally-protected snake is the massasauga rattlesnake. According to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, only garter snakes can be legally caught, collected, and killed in every state county.
Timber rattlesnakes are protected in 14 out of 99 counties. However, they can be killed within 50 yards of an occupied residence. All other snakes cannot be caught or killed without a scientific collector’s permit.
There are 40 snake species in Kansas, of which 6 are venomous. In Kansas, snakes are protected by state law. You have to obtain a collecting permit to catch and keep one, e.g. at a prairie rattlesnake roundup.
A regular hunting license is needed to hunt for reptiles, snakes included. Open season is all year round. 5 snakes may be taken or killed at a time.
It’s illegal to harm or possess the copperbelly water snake in Kentucky. Aside from that species, snakes are unprotected. No native species are listed under the ESA.
Louisiana has relaxed laws when it comes to killing snakes. There aren’t any protected species, even under the ESA.
To kill any snake, you just need a basic fishing license. This lets you collect, possess, and kill any native amphibians and reptiles that you want. The only exception is that you can’t remove or kill animals that are nesting.
There are 9 snake species in Maine. Unfortunately, there are no snakes protected by the ESA. The northern black racer is listed as endangered by the state of Maine.
It, therefore, cannot be taken or killed. The taking of snakes for export or commercial purposes is entirely prohibited. However, killing snakes when they are on your property is legal (aside from the northern black racer).
It’s illegal to kill any snake in Maryland without a permit from the Department of Natural Resources. They’re protected by the Nongame and Endangered Species Conservation Act (MD Code, Natural Resources, § 10-2A-01-09).
This act is an extension of the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA). Specific local species are protected, whether they’re included in the federal listings or not.
Breaking this law carries the same penalty as violating the federal ESA. You could be fined up to $1,000, or even spend a year in jail. According to the Cumberland Times-News, a man called Charles Robertson found this out after clearing a copperhead from his yard.
Under the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act, you cannot legally kill, harass or possess a northern copperhead, a timber rattlesnake, a black rat snake or an eastern worm snake. Other species may be hunted and trapped up to a limit of 2.
In Michigan, the massasauga rattlesnake is protected by the ESA. Several snakes are also protected by Michigan law.
These include Kirtland’s snake and the black rat snake (due to their declining numbers). They are on the Michigan Natural Resources Commission’s protected list, alongside Butler’s garter snake and the smooth green snake.
Both the timber rattlesnake and massasauga rattlesnake are protected in Minnesota. Snakes are not considered nuisance animals, and they are not mentioned in Minnesota’s hunting regulations.
It isn’t illegal to kill other snakes. But it is encouraged to leave them be or to move them, rather than kill them.
In Mississippi, it’s legal to kill a venomous snake if it poses an imminent threat to you. It’s also legal to kill nonvenomous snakes, provided that it’s on your property.
If it’s not on your property, then you’ll need a small game hunting license to kill one, as per Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks Public Notice 3201. It’s illegal to kill any protected endangered species.
In Missouri, snakes are protected by state law. The Wildlife Code of Missouri classifies snakes as nongame animals, meaning there is no open season for them. It’s, therefore, illegal to hunt or kill them.
There are 10 snake species in Montana, and only the prairie rattlesnake is venomous. None of Montana’s snakes are protected by the ESA.
The plains hognose snake, the western milksnake and the smooth green snake are listed as ‘species of concern.’ However, this does not provide any legal protection.
There are no snakes native to Nebraska that are protected by the ESA. Since there are so few snake species in Nebraska, there are no state-specific laws.
The timber rattlesnake was proposed to be added to the ESA in Nebraska as the snake’s range is diminishing. However, this hasn’t happened yet.
In Nevada, the only venomous snakes are rattlesnakes, and none are protected by state or federal law. There are no non-venomous snakes listed on the ESA website as protected.
There are no snakes that live in New Hampshire and are protected by the ESA. However, the laws enforced by the New Hampshire Fish and Game Commission specify snakes that cannot be taken or killed without a permit. This includes native black racers, eastern hognose snakes, smooth green snakes, and ribbon snakes.
There are no venomous or nonvenomous snakes in New Jersey protected by the ESA. However, all New Jersey snakes are protected under the New Jersey Endangered and Nongame Species Conservation Act.
This bill makes it illegal to either take or kill native snake species. These species include the garter snake, the northern water snake, the eastern milk snake, the black rat snake, and the northern black racer. The northern brown snake, the northern redbelly snake, the northern ringneck snake, and the eastern ribbon snake are all protected too.
Under New Mexico Statutes, Chapter 17, Game and Fish and Outdoor Recreation, Article 2, Hunting and Fishing Regulations, Part 3, the Wildlife Conservation Act, several snake species are protected. This act protects any endangered species, and several snakes fall under that remit, including:
There are only 16 native snake species in New York state. Of these, 2 are endangered species. These are the Eastern Massasauga rattlesnake and the Queen snake, which have small and shrinking populations.
According to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, you may not capture, kill or take any native snake at any time. There is no open season for snakes, lizards or salamanders.
It’s illegal to kill certain species of venomous and non-venomous snake in North Carolina, if they’re classified as N.C. Species of Special Concern.
These are species that are endangered, or are threatened with declining population numbers. You can’t collect them without a permit, and you can only kill them if they’re an imminent threat. These snakes include:
Any snake or animal that’s in a national or state park is protected.
2 species of snake are classified as Level I Species of Conservation Priority in North Dakota. These are the smooth green snake and the plains hognose snake. There are no specific protections in place for these species.
To kill small game animals, it’s necessary to possess a predator/varmint license. However, it’s unclear whether snakes are considered small game.
In Ohio, there is no specified bag limit for any snake species. There is also no defined season. Only the massassauga rattlesnake and copperbelly are considered nongame animals. That means other species are fair game. The massassauga rattlesnake is listed on the ESA list of endangered species.
It’s unlawful to take or possess any reptile, including snakes, unless you have either a hunting or fishing license (depending on whether you’re catching a water or land snake). However, there is no law against killing them if the snake is ‘creating a nuisance,’ e.g. by invading your property.
Aside from that, if you’re taking part in a rattlesnake hunting event, then you have to have a license to do so. The standard federal laws regarding endangered species also apply.
There are 4 snakes in Oregon that are listed as protected nongame species. This means that it’s illegal to kill them, or even catch them or possess them. These snakes are the common kingsnake, the California mountain kingsnake, the sharp-tailed snake, and the western ground snake.
Every snake species in Pennsylvania is protected by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission’s regulations. Any species not listed as endangered, threatened, or a candidate endangered species may be captured or possessed. The bag limit is just 1.
According to Rhode Island’s hunting regulations, the taking of any reptile or amphibian is prohibited. The only exception is by special permit, which will almost certainly not be allowed. The timber rattlesnake where found is specially protected. You aren’t allowed to interfere with its nests or eggs.
In South Carolina, it’s illegal to kill or harm any animal unless you have a permit. The permits are issued by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, and they’re for designated Game Management Areas.
There are no snake species considered endangered in South Dakota. There is also no reference made to reptiles generally, or snakes specifically, in South Dakota’s hunting regulations. There seems to be no law prohibiting the killing of snakes.
In Tennessee, you can’t kill a wild snake without a permit. However, as is often the case, you’re within your rights to defend yourself if you are genuinely threatened by the snake. If you find a snake within your home, for example, you can kill it instead of calling pest control.
In Texas, native snakes are not listed as nongame animals. The only 2 that are protected are the eastern timber rattlesnake and the indigo snake.
However, they also aren’t specified as a game animal. There is no defined bag limit for snakes in Texas. Here’s some further information on venomous snakes in Texas.
The bag limit is specified on each native snake species in Utah. For example, the yearly collection limit on desert nightsnakes is 3, and the possession limit 9. The annual limit on wandering garter snakes, however, is 25. For a complete list, visit Utah DNR’s site.
According to their regulations, Vermont Fish & Wildlife require that a person fishing, hunting, trapping or taking any wild animal acquires a license. No bag limit is specified for snakes. The only exception is the timber rattlesnake, which is protected.
Virginia has detailed laws with regards to killing snakes. They’re classified as a non-game species. This means that you can’t kill them in their native habitat, but if they threaten you or your property, you do have the right to kill them. This also applies to snakes that are threatening your livestock.
The hunting season on snakes is year-round, and there is no limit.
In West Virginia, regulations introduced in 2014 set the yearly bag limit for all native snakes to 4. The only exceptions are the northern copperhead and the timber rattlesnake. These snakes have an annual bag limit of 1. The season is year round.
If you want to catch or kill a timber rattlesnake, it’s unlawful to do so unless it’s 42 inches or greater in length.
All native Wisconsin herptiles are protected, and have no open season. However, the level of protection to each snake varies. Eastern massasauga rattlesnakes, northern ribbon snakes, queen snakes, and western ribbon snakes are endangered. Butler’s garter snake is threatened.
None of these snakes can be collected except with a valid Endangered and Threatened Species Permit. These permits are only issued for education, research, and conservation activities.
Black rat snakes, bull snakes, timber rattlesnakes, and yellow-bellied racers cannot be collected. They aren’t endangered, but are still protected.
Reptiles are considered nongame animals in Wyoming. The only exception is if ‘their take is beneficial to conservation or management goals,’ and that ‘the individual requesting a permit represents an educational institution, governmental agency, non-governmental scientific research entity or is determined to be a qualified person by the Department.’
Besides federal and state law, you also have to think about municipal law. Towns and cities across the country have laws about killing snakes.
Important: Please perform your own research, consult a lawyer, and/or contact a local representative to make sure you stay within the law when killing snakes. All laws are subject to interpretation and change.
