Welcome to rochestersnakes.com! I am David, a snake enthusiast living in Rochester, NY. Many people don't know that Rochester is in fact full of snakes! You just need to know where to find them - they can often be shy and elusive. Some New York snake species are more common outside of the city limits, in different parts of Monroe County NY, but many types of snakes are indeed common in the more urban parts of Rochester. This guide is meant to help educate you about the beautiful snakes of Rochester, and to help you identify the most common snakes of Rochester, as well as the venomous snakes of Rochester that you should learn to recognize and avoid. If you want more detail, click here for my complete list of ALL snake species in Rochester. Remember the following:
- Most snakes of Rochester are harmless and don't want to encounter you
- Venomous snakes exist but are uncommon in Rochester, New York
- Snakes eat rats and mice and are a valuable part of the New York ecosystem
- Never kill a snake - if you leave a snake alone, it will leave you alone.
Common Snake Species in Rochester
![Rochester snake](easternmilksnake.jpg)
![Rochester snake](westernblackratsnake.jpg)
![Rochester snake](northernredbelly.jpg)
![Rochester snake](watersnake.jpg)
![Rochester snake](easternribbonsnake.jpg)
Venomous Snake Species in Rochester
![Rochester snake](easternmassasaugarattlesnake.jpg)
If you're unsure, you can email me a photo of the snake at info@rochestersnakes.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 Rochester snake removal help, click my Get Help page, or see the below website sponsor I found, who provides that service.
How do snakes smell their environment?
Snakes don't exactly “smell” like we — humans — can smell. The smell of bacon is often enough to lure teenagers from their beds, certain smells having very distinct impressions on the brain, and causing a vast array of reactions.
Snakes have similar reactions, but rather than using a sense of smell, they use their forked tongues to analyze various chemical components in the air around them. Every time the tongue is poked out of the snake’s mouth and then sneaks back in again, it delivers chemical messages that the snake can then analyze with a special gland and system, relaying a wealth of information. The “vomeronasal” system is connected to the “vomeronasal” organ, which is also commonly referred to as the “Jacobson’s" organ. Situated at the top/roof of the snake's mouth, it collects the chemical messages that are picked up via the tongue and then "figures them out”. Electrical signals are believed to be behind it all, essentially allowing the snake to smell life around them in a three-dimensional way. They can use those chemical reactions and messages to work out other animals in the area, and whether or not they are predators or prey. They can figure out where holes are, and whether there are other animals inhabiting those holes. They can determine a lot of things using that smelling-in-3D method, and it is also how female snakes will send out messages to male snakes, letting them know they are ready to breed.
Remember, the term is not poisonous snakes of Rochester, it's venomous snakes of Rochester. Poison is generally something you eat, and venom is injected into you. That said, dangerous snakes are very rare in Rochester. The few venomous snakes of Monroe County are rarely seen. But they are commonly misidentified, so learn about all the snake species of Rochester in order to correctly identify them. These snakes are usually also found in the surrounding towns of Rochester, Webster, Greece, Brockport, Fairport, Penfield, Henrietta, Pittsford, Irondequoit, Brighton, Hilton, Chili, Spencerport, East Rochester, Mendon, Gates, Honeoye Falls, Churchville, Scottsville, Hamlin, Rush, Wheatland, Clarkson, Riga, Gates-North Gates, and the surrounding areas.
Read our article about:
Do snakes chase you?
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