Eastern King Snake or Black Snake

Some people believe “the only good snake is a dead snake”, on the other hand, some people like to keep non-venomous snakes as pets.  The Georgia Department of Natural Resources is reminding Georgia residents that it is illegal to kill non-venomous snaked and it is illegal to keep wild, non-venomous snakes as pets without proper documentation.

Those who hate snakes will often go out of their way to kill them, even if they are non-venomous. Harmless water snakes often are mistaken for cottonmouths and are killed “just in case.” However, killing non-venomous snakes is illegal in Georgia. Keeping native non-venomous snakes as pets also is illegal without the proper permits (call the DNR Special Permits Office at 770-761-3044 for info on obtaining exhibition permits for educational purposes).

Venomous snakes, although beneficial, are not protected since they may pose a threat to humans. Be sure you know which 6 of the 41 species of snakes in Georgia are venomous. If possible, simply
leave venomous snakes alone; you don’t need to kill them just because it’s legal.

Venomous snakes in Georgia are:

• Copperhead.
• Pigmy Rattlesnake.
• Timber Rattlesnake.
• Cottonmouth.
• Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake.
• Eastern Coral Snake.