Last Updated: January 2, 2022
Are There Any Snakes In Alaska? (It’s Already Dangerous Enough)
Curious if there are any snakes in Alaska? Then you’ve found the right guide because I’ll tell you everything you need to know about Alaska and snakes!
Alaska is known for a lot of things, but snakes is not one of them. Although there aren’t any snakes that are native to the Alaskan wilderness, that’s not to say that there aren’t any snakes at all in the state.
People have spotted them slithering about in the wild, some have made it onto news channels, and there were even reports of the dangerous Alaskan snow snake, which is so deadly that it can freeze the blood in your body with just one bite.
Keep reading to see if those reports are true and if there are any snakes at all in Alaska!
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Are There Snakes In Alaska?
The short answer is yes, there are some snakes in Alaska. However, there aren’t any species that are native to Alaska. And the latest confirmed reports of snake sightings out in the wild date back to the 70s.
The few snakes that do live in Alaska are usually pets who were brought into the state, and the chances of you encountering a snake while you’re out and about in Alaska are worse than your chances of winning the lottery.
The key reason for the total absence of snakes in Alaska is the cold weather. Snakes, as well as other reptiles, are generally dormant in the winter and they only come out when it’s nice and warm outside. But if that’s the case, how come people have encountered snakes out in the wild in Alaska?
In most cases, those are pets that have either escaped or been released by their rightful owners. This has happened several times already, and the people in Alaska have had to deal with a phyton escaping their owner’s home, which caused a state-wide search that ended when the phyton casually slithered back into its home.
In that sense, it could be possible to encounter any kind of snake in Alaska, but that snake is always going to exist in the state because someone brought it there.
In addition to that, the only type of snake recorded in Alaska that wasn’t someone’s pet was the garter snake. They were found around the hot springs in the Southeast, but the latest confirmed sighting was way back in the 70s. There have been several reported sightings in the last few years, but none of those were confirmed.
Poisonous Snakes In Alaska
Are there any poisonous snakes in Alaska? The answer is a little more complicated than a simple yes or no, and we need to take into account the reported (but not confirmed) sightings of garter snakes.
For a long time, garter snakes were believed to be non-venomous. However, findings from the last two decades suggest that these reptiles are indeed mildly venomous, but not in a way that could be fatal for humans. Garter snakes are not good at delivering their venom, which is exactly why they were believed to have been non-venomous all this time.
Also, these snakes tend to hide when they feel threatened, and it’s very rare for them to attack a human without being provoked first.
So, what’s the worst that can happen on the off chance you get bitten by a garter snake? You can expect the bitten area to swell and bruise a little bit, and that’s all. It’s definitely not a pleasant experience, but we are talking about venomous snakes, so it’s nowhere near as nasty as it could be.
Keep in mind that sightings of these snakes were reported only in the Alaskan Panhandle. This is the warmest part of the state that gets the least amount of snow, so it’s not that surprising that snakes could survive in this part of the state.
On the other hand, you should also remember that none of the sightings in the past few decades were confirmed. Also, it’s extremely rare for garter snakes to attach humans, and even if one were to bite you, you’re just looking at some swelling and bruising.
Alaskan Snow Snakes: Are They Real?
There are a lot of videos on the Internet of “snow snakes” that appear to thrive in cold weather. It’s rumored that they are deadly because their bite can freeze the blood in your organism in just a few minutes. The “snow snakes” are white, they move fast, and they usually appear out of nowhere, slithering over the frozen ground towards their prey.
The good news is that none of that is true – the videos of so-called snow snakes are usually doctored, or feature a rubber toy. Snakes, like most other reptiles, do not fare well in cold weather and they are dormant throughout winter. When temperatures drop to near or below freezing levels, reptiles will seek shelter and hibernate until they’re able to come out again.
During the hibernation period, the reptiles rely on the calories they’ve consumed during the growing season to stay alive. Since the winters are so long and cold in Alaska, it’s pretty much impossible for reptiles to live through them. The only reptiles that can manage to survive in Alaska are sea turtles, who are able to hibernate in the water.
Are There Rattlesnakes In Alaska?
No, there are no rattlesnakes in Alaska. In fact, there are no poisonous snakes at all out in the wild (apart from mildly venomous garter snakes), to the joy of all people who come from snake-heavy places. It’s worth noting that Alaska has almost no other reptiles either – you won’t see any lizards, or freshwater turtles in the wild either, and at the very best you might be able to spot a sea turtle.
That being said, it’s important to note that it’s not entirely impossible to encounter a rattlesnake in Alaska. It’s illegal to own a poisonous snake in the state, but not everyone is going to abide by that law.
In theory, a person could own a rattlesnake, and if it were to escape, you might be able to encounter a venomous rattlesnake out and about in the Alaskan wild. The chances of that actually happening are extremely low, but nothing is impossible!
About the Author Anna Timbrook
Anna is the co-owner of expert world travel and can't wait to share her travel experience with the world. With over 54 countries under her belt she has a lot to write about! Including those insane encounters with black bears in Canada.
