Welcome to cantonsnakes.com! I am David, a snake enthusiast living in Canton, OH. Many people don't know that Canton is in fact full of snakes! You just need to know where to find them - they can often be shy and elusive. Some Ohio snake species are more common outside of the city limits, in different parts of Stark County OH, but many types of snakes are indeed common in the more urban parts of Canton. This guide is meant to help educate you about the beautiful snakes of Canton, and to help you identify the most common snakes of Canton, as well as the venomous snakes of Canton that you should learn to recognize and avoid. If you want more detail, click here for my complete list of ALL snake species in Canton. Remember the following:

Common Snake Species in Canton

Rat snakes: Rat snakes are common non-venomous snakes found in Ohio. These snakes can be black or brown in color. The presence of these snakes is beneficial, in that it helps to keep the population of their prey down. It is noteworthy that copperheads are a part of the diet of the rat snakes found in Canton, Ohio. Thus, rat snakes can help keep the population of poisonous snakes down. They can also be easily mistaken for copperheads because of their similar physical features. The rat snakes of Canton, Ohio are commonly found in suburban areas, because of the abundance of food. They could also be found in homes. As one of the commonest non-venomous snakes in Ohio, they are easily mistaken for more dangerous snakes, like copperheads, and persecuted.

Plains garter snake: The plains garter snake is a common non-venomous snake in Ohio. The plains garter snake and the closely related Butler’s garter snake are found in Canton, Ohio. They feed majorly on earthworms and can also eat aquatic creatures like toads, frogs, and salamanders. The snakes are found in open, grassy areas. They are also found close to water bodies. The garter snakes of Ohio may be found in suburban areas. They typically infest unkempt gardens and unoccupied grassy lots.




Eastern massasauga rattlesnake: The rattlesnakes are considered an endangered species because of their distribution in Ohio and the rest of the country. Their average length ranges from 14 to 25 inches. They have gray or brownish-gray bodies. The male eastern massasauga rattlesnake is adorned by multiple spots. The dorsal spots of the snakes range from 29 to 50.






Common water snake: This non-venomous snake is commonly seen in Canton, Ohio. They are some of the longer snakes commonly seen in Ohio. The snakes can grow as long as 45 inches. Their average length is between 40 and 45 inches. The common water snake has varying patterns, with the underbelly usually lighter than the rest of their bodies. The color of their bodies varies and can be red, black, dark brown, and gray.





Queen snake: Queen snakes are commonly found in Canton, Ohio, as well as the rest of the state. They are relatively short snakes, with an average length of about 25 inches. The snakes have a one-tone color, which can be green-brown, black or dark brown. They are known for their camouflaging skills which they particularly apply in gardens. The snakes make a common appearance in backyards and could be attracted to an area because of an abundance of sources of food.

Venomous Snake Species in Canton

Timber rattlesnake: The timber rattlesnake is one of the venomous snakes of Canton Ohio. The snakes have an average length of three to four feet. They can also grow as long as six feet. They are described as one of the most dangerous snakes in Ohio. The snakes rarely strike or rattle except when they are particularly disturbed. Timber rattlesnakes are known for their crossbands which can either be on a golden yellow background or black background, the yellow and black phase, respectively. The crossbands of the snakes stretch from one side of their backs to another. Timber rattlesnakes are described as an endangered species in Ohio, because of their limited distribution.

Northern copperhead: These venomous snakes can be easily identified by their physical features. According to the name, the heads of these snakes are copper-colored. Other notable physical features of these snakes include the hourglass pattern on their backs, which is chestnut colored. Their bodies are colored gray brownish or pinkish. The northern copperhead has an average length of 25 inches to 36 inches. These pit vipers are the only well-known venomous snakes that do not rattle.




If you're unsure, you can email me a photo of the snake at info@cantonsnakes.com and I will email you back with the snake's species. If you found a snake skin, read my Found a Skin? page, and you can email me a photo of the skin, and I'll identify the snake for you. If you need professional Canton snake removal help, click my Get Help page, or see the below website sponsor I found, who provides that service.



Remember, the term is not poisonous snakes of Canton, it's venomous snakes of Canton. Poison is generally something you eat, and venom is injected into you. That said, dangerous snakes are very rare in Canton. The few venomous snakes of Stark County are rarely seen. But they are commonly misidentified, so learn about all the snake species of Canton in order to correctly identify them. These snakes are usually also found in the surrounding towns of Massillon, North Canton, Louisville, Hartville, Canal Fulton, Uniontown, East Canton, Navarre, Brewster, Waynesburg, Meyers Lake, Beach City, East Sparta, Hills and Dales, Greentown, Perry Heights, Wilmot, Limaville, and the surrounding areas.

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