Snake FinderField Guide · Worldwide

Regional field guide

Snakes in Ontario

10+ snake species have verified records in Ontario, including 1 venomous. Pick your county below to see exactly which snakes live near you.

Common Garter Snake
The snake most often recorded in Ontario: Common Garter Snake

Snakes of Ontario

Ontario has 17 recorded snake species, of which 1 is venomous. That low count reflects Canada's cold northern climate, which sharply limits how many snake species can survive this far north.

Cold winters are the main constraint. Snakes are ectotherms and cannot stay active through long freezing seasons, so Ontario species spend months in hibernation, often gathering in communal dens below the frost line to share scarce shelter and survive until spring. Garter snakes, the most cold-tolerant snakes in the Americas, are the most widespread here, alongside harmless species such as redbelly snakes, ringneck snakes, and watersnakes.

The one venomous species in Ontario is the eastern massasauga, a small rattlesnake found in limited areas. It is shy and rarely encountered, but you should still never handle a wild snake. Every other snake in the province is harmless to people. If a venomous bite ever occurs, do not attempt first aid yourself; call US Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 or local emergency services and get to emergency care right away.

Venomous snakes in Ontario

Most commonly seen

Counties in Ontario

53 listed
  1. Algoma7
  2. Brant9
  3. Bruce9
  4. Chatham-Kent8
  5. Cochrane1
  6. Dufferin3
  7. Durham5
  8. Elgin5
  9. Essex9
  10. Frontenac10
  11. Greater Sudbury6
  12. Grey8
  13. Haldimand-Norfolk11
  14. Haliburton8
  15. Halton8
  16. Hamilton8
  17. Hastings8
  18. Huron8
  19. Kawartha Lakes9
  20. Kenora2
  21. Lake Erie11
  22. Lake Hurron12
  23. Lake Ontario10
  24. Lake Superior3
  25. Lambton12
  26. Lanark10
  27. Leeds and Grenville10
  28. Lennox and Addington8
  29. Manitoulin8
  30. Middlesex9
  31. Muskoka11
  32. Niagara8
  33. Nipissing8
  34. Northumberland6
  35. Ottawa8
  36. Oxford5
  37. Parry Sound11
  38. Peel5
  39. Perth3
  40. Peterborough9
  41. Prescott and Russell3
  42. Prince Edward7
  43. Rainy River2
  44. Renfrew7
  45. Simcoe11
  46. Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry2
  47. Sudbury8
  48. Thunder Bay3
  49. Timiskaming4
  50. Toronto7
  51. Waterloo7
  52. Wellington8
  53. York5

Snakes in Ontario: FAQ

Are there venomous snakes in Ontario?
Yes. 1 venomous snake species has verified records in Ontario, including Eastern Massasauga. Most snakes in Ontario, however, are harmless.
How many snake species live in Ontario?
10+ snake species have verified records in Ontario, of which 1 is venomous.
What is the most commonly seen snake in Ontario?
The Common Garter Snake is the most frequently reported snake in Ontario, based on verified wildlife observations.
What should I do if I see a venomous snake in Ontario?
Keep your distance and do not try to catch or kill it. Most bites happen when people handle or corner a snake. If someone is bitten, contact local emergency services or poison control immediately.