There are several venomous snakes here in Arizona. Most of us know there are rattlesnakes, but there are non-venomous snakes, too. Knowing which snakes are safe or dangerous is not only very important, it could save you a lot of pain and keep you out of the emergency room. Here are some pictures of snakes so you know what to look for:

Pictures of Snakes: Venomous

The most common rattlesnake in the Phoenix area is the Western Diamondback. They can be found in neighborhoods, as well as in the desert. They are large and aggressive and have a rattle at the end of their white and black striped tail. Their coloring is shades of brown or grey with a white-lined diamond pattern on their back.

Sonoran Coralsnake picture courtest of David Jahn at www.flickr.com

Speckled Rattlesnake picture courtesy of Jamidwyer at commons.wikimedia.org

Black-tailed Rattlesnake pictured courtesy of LA Dawson at commons.wikimedia.org

Mojave Rattlesnake picture courtesy of Mark Bratton at commons.wikimedia.org

Tiger Rattlesnake picture courtesy of Edward L. Ruden at bugguide.net

In order to avoid these venomous creatures, stay on trails while hiking, though always keep on the lookout and listen for the telltale rattling sound. If you are outside – whether in your yard or in the desert – never put your hands where you can’t see what’s underneath (like under a rock).

Pictures of Snakes: Non-Venomous

As for the Sonoran Desert's non-venomous snakes, we have the Sonoran Gophersnake, which is often mistaken for a rattler, as well as the Desert Nightsnake and the California Kingsnake, which likes to eat other snakes.

California Kingsnake picture courtesy of Ross at southerncaliforniakingsnakes.weebly.com

Desert Nightsnake photo courtesy of Jim Rorabaugh at tucsonherpsociety.org

Sonoran Gophersnake picture courtesy of Biker Dave at commons.wikimedia.org

What to Do

There are several other snakes that can be found here, though these are the most common. If you are unsure if a snake is safe or dangerous, it’s much better to be safe than sorry, so stay away from any you find. If a snake does bite you, stay calm and call 911, and then go to the nearest hospital as soon as possible. Never slice the bite marks or try to suck out the blood like they do on TV.

At Bug & Weed Mart, we sell snake repellent granules that repel snakes so well that snakes will not cross over where the granules are applied. Applying a 5" banded perimeter application is effective in keeping snakes away, though you should apply a 12" perimeter for rattlesnakes.

We can help you get rid of snakes or even help you identify a snake you've seen (from a picture only - please don't bring any snakes in!), so stop into any of our Valley-wide locations.