There are a lot of snakes in Maine! Intriguingly, they are all remarkably distinctive and have evolved to occupy various environments and niches.
You’ll observe different types of snakes in Maine that differ greatly.
As an illustration, whereas some species prefer to live in or close to water, others spend most of their time climbing trees.
Or the fact that while some types of snakes in Maine prefer to live underground, where they are rarely seen, others are content to live extremely near people.
Let’s get started!
1. Eastern Ribbon Snake
Ribbon snakes are the most prevalent type of snake in Maine. Due to their numerous morph options and lack of lethal potential, these shy, non-poisonous snakes make popular pets.
When purchased from a reputable pet store where they are captive-bred, these snakes can make ideal pets for inexperienced snake keepers as they are the most well-tempered Ribbon Snake subspecies.
Ribbon snakes’ bodies are typically slim, tan, or dark brown, and they have strong, light-colored stripes along their length, which are typically bright or pale yellow.
They are semi-aquatic types of snakes in Maine that are typically found close to a body of water, such as the banks of rivers or lakes.
They occasionally live near marshes or woodlands along water borders. Since they are carnivorous, they consume tadpoles, insects, and tiny fish.
2. Eastern Garter Snake
Eastern garter snakes are also one of the types of snakes in Maine that remain active all day.
They enjoy frequent soaks, especially when shedding, so a water bowl should always be in their tank.
Garter snakes are a wonderful beginner-friendly reptile because they are calm and won’t get too big. If they feel threatened, they will release a musk to fend off predators.
These types of snakes in Maine have a unique yellow or off-white stripe spanning the length of their bodies, and their colors can range from dark olive green to brown or black.
The only method to distinguish an Eastern garter snake from other subspecies is to look at its stripes.
You may also tell what kind of garter snake it is by counting the scales on its top lip and observing its scale patterns.
They inhabit various habitats in the wild, including marshes, forests, meadows, and slopes.
These types of snakes in Maine consume amphibians, leeches, worms, snails, small fish, and even other snakes.
They also resist poisonous frogs, which release poison from their skin to scare off prey.
3. Eastern Milk Snake
The central and southern parts of Maine are home to Eastern Milk Snakes (Lampropeltis Triangulum), which can reach a length of 36 inches (91 cm) and have smooth and lustrous scales.
Some of these types of snakes in Maine have red or red-to-brown regions, and some are all brown with black edges.
They have tan or gray bases with up to five brown patches, with black borders running the snake’s length. On their bellies, they feature a black and white checkered pattern.
A kind of kingsnake known as the milk snake is non-venomous, sociable, submissive, and attractive.
Milk Snakes have black-brown bands and blotches that loop around the length of their bodies. They are tan or brown.
Depending on the Milk Snake, its skin can occasionally be pale yellow with an almost crimson striped pattern, akin to that of the Western Milk Snake, the poisonous Coral snake, or a Rattlesnake.
They lack the rattle at the end of their tails but have intimidating-looking cat-like pupils.
They can be discovered in meadows, pastures, any type of artificial cover, at the sides of waterways, on the cliffs of mountains, and in wooded areas.
These types of snakes in Maine are carnivorous and eat lizards, eggs from reptiles, birds, mice, and occasionally insects.
4. Common Water Snake
The southern, eastern, and central parts of Maine are home to numerous Common Water Snakes (Nerodia Sipedon), which can reach a length of 4 feet 5 inches (135 cm).
With dark crossbands on the neck and dark patches on the body, they can range in color from red to black, gray, or brown. The crescents on the belly may be red, black, yellow, gray, or white.
5. Dekay’s Brown Snake
Dowdle Brown Snakes are not timid, and people frequently interact with them. Due to their small and mild disposition, they can make wonderful pets for beginners. Additionally, feeding them is extremely simple.
As their name suggests, these non-venomous snakes in Maine are often brown, but they can also be yellowish, red, or grayish-brown.
It usually looks like a collar or middorsal streak along the side of their head because they have two rows of either darker or lighter spots that may also be joined.
There can also be a tiny dark area under each of their eyes. Some people may not have these markings at all. Either white or tan will cover their undersides.
They prefer to live in many types of forests, most frequently in moist regions like swamp or wetland boundaries.
They enjoy wandering across abandoned fields and lowland hardwoods, prairies, and oak savannas. They are frequently seen in urbanized areas and residential neighborhoods.
With their specialized jaws and teeth, these types of snakes in Maine will eat small invertebrates such as earthworms, slugs, and snails in their surroundings.
If they come to find one, they might also consume salamanders and bugs.
6. Common Garter Snake
In Maine, common garter snakes (Thamnophis Sirtalis) can reach lengths of four feet (1.2 meters).
They are available in various hues: blue, gold, red, orange, black, brown, and green. They are most active in the early mornings and late afternoons. Other garter snakes live in the same dens as them.
Despite being seen as non-venomous to people, they have a toxic venom that can give people an allergic reaction and result in swelling, burning, and itching.
The common garter snake poses no threat to people. These guys want to be busy during the day and are typically rather little.
These types of snakes in Maine will need a bowl in their tank because they like to soak frequently, especially when it’s time to shed.
Since they are calm and won’t get too big, garter snakes are excellent for beginners.
Common garter snakes can be dark olive-green, brown, or black, and they have a noticeable yellow stripe spanning the length of their bodies.
They may release a musk when threatened to deter predators. These areas include wetlands, wooded areas, meadows, and hillsides.
These types of snakes in Maine consume amphibians, leeches, worms, snails, small fish, and even other snakes.
They also resist poisonous frogs, which release poison from their skin to scare off prey.
7. Northern American Racer
The black racer, known as the Northern American Racer (Coluber Constrictor), is a swift snake. It is only found in the southern part of Maine and is regarded as endangered there.
They have a light-colored belly and are black, blue, or both. Their belly is dark gray or blue, they have a white throat and chin, and youngsters are a lighter shade that gets darker as they age.
They can reach five feet and are safe for people to handle. They are quite active all day long.
Fields, meadows, and forest margins are among the open spaces these types of snakes like in Maine.
8. Western Ribbon Snake
The Western Ribbon Snake is a different variety of the Ribbon Snake, which is the most prevalent Garter Snake species.
They come in a variety of morphs and are not venomous, as we said with the Eastern, making them a desirable pet option.
Like Eastern Ribbon Snakes, Western Ribbonsnakes have distinctive pale yellow or light green stripes along their bodies and can be brown, nearly black, or olive.
Since they are semi-aquatic, these types of snakes can be found in Maine near bodies of water, such as rivers or lakes.
They will occasionally live near marshes or woodlands along water borders. They are carnivorous and mostly eat tadpoles, insects, and tiny fish.
9. Northern Ringneck Snake
These little types of snakes in Maine can be kept as pets, but because of their shy temperament and challenges with reproduction, they typically do not thrive in captivity.
Ringneck snake subspecies should not be taken because they are all endangered in their natural habitats.
Since they have particular survival requirements, ringneck snakes are not the most straightforward to care for.
Since they prefer to remain hidden at all times, they also don’t make the ideal pets.
Many Ringnecks are captured and removed from their natural habitats by overeager new keepers. Usually, after a week or two of captivity, they stop eating.
However, they respond to handling rather well because they are not aggressive. Although they have a small amount of venom, their poison is similar to a bee’s sting.
When threatened, ringnecks’ well-known defense tactic involves folding up their tail, which displays their vivid red underside.
They may attempt to nip at you even if they are not hostile since they have fangs that face backward.
They don’t love being seen and prefer to remain concealed, yet handling them poses virtually little hazard to humans.
The narrow body of a northern ringneck snake is often dark gray or a drab blue-gray color, with a flat, black head and smooth scales all around.
Their undersides occasionally have little patches or speckles and might be bright or light yellow.
The band that encircles their neck, which is either yellow or orange, gives them their name. There are numerous subspecies, and colors might differ.
Since they are similar in size and color to Prairie Ringnecks, they are occasionally confused for those birds.
You can tell them apart by observing their belly colors since a Northern Ring Snake would have a solid, unmarked pale yellow belly.
These little types of snakes in Maine prefer to live in moist or dry deciduous forests because they don’t like to be seen or in the open.
In these settings, they eat earthworms, smaller snakes, salamanders, small amphibians, and beetles.
10. Northern Red-bellied Snake
Northern Red-bellied Snake is next on our list of types of snakes in Maine. On the warm days from September through October, you can find these little snakes in swarms soaking up the sun.
Additionally, they can be found on bike routes and side roads, in forests, behind logs, in fields, and in sphagnum bogs. In these habitats, they eat slugs, earthworms, and beetle larvae.
They can occasionally be discovered in the wild or gardens without pesticides, and people may decide to keep them as pets.
When kept in captivity, though, they struggle to feed, and when taken out of the wild, they occasionally flat-out refuse.
They prefer to be left alone to roam the countryside at their leisure because they do poorly in captivity.
Although they are not difficult to find in the wild, they might not make the best pets if you intend to keep them for a long time because they do not thrive outside their natural habitat.
Because they like to keep to themselves, you might not encounter them as frequently in the wild. They don’t tolerate populated regions as well.
Recognizing these snakes is not difficult since they truly live up to their name with their vivid red or orange undersides. Their bodies could be copper brown, black with a blue hue, or dark steel gray.
Some may also have a thick, light-colored band running along the middle of their backs or two dark stripes along their sides.
Even though they normally defend themselves by curling their tails or running away before attempting to bite, their brief nibble won’t likely hurt you.
Even though they are little and attractive, they do not generally fare well as pets because they do not thrive for very long in captivity.
11. Smooth Green Snake
To conclude our list, smooth green snakes can be found in Maine in the wild, but due to their shy nature, they are rarely seen.
For any owner hesitant to feed their smooth green snake’s dead rodents, smooth green snakes can make wonderful pets.
These types of snakes in Maine mainly consume insects, such as spiders, moths, ants, snails, slugs, worms, and spineless caterpillars.
They are reportedly not good pets because they are too shy to interact with people. They are safe, though, and some like to be handled.
Open woods, stream borders, marshes, and meadows are good places to look for them.
These snakes are brilliant green, but as you might guess from their name, they can come in various shades.
They maintain a tiny size and may have a pale underbelly of yellow with beady eyes.
Given their high anxiety levels and susceptibility to stress, these types of snakes are not the easiest to manage in captivity.
