Eastern ribbonsnake (Thamnophis saurita)
The eastern ribbonsnake is a snake in the family Colubridae with a mild venom for its prey, not dangerous to people. GBIF holds 2,312 licensed U.S. records of it; it reaches our listing threshold in 25 states, most of all Florida (754), Michigan (244) and North Carolina (228). Its observation records peak in March.
Thamnophis saurita, also known as the eastern ribbon snake, common ribbon snake, or simply ribbon snake, is a common species of garter snake native to Eastern North America. It is a non-venomous species of snake in the subfamily Natricinae of the family Colubridae. The ribbon snake averages 16 to 35 inches (41 to 89 cm) in total length (including tail).
From Wikipedia: Thamnophis saurita, text under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Is the eastern ribbonsnake poisonous or venomous?
Mildly venomous but not dangerous: the eastern ribbonsnake has enlarged rear teeth and a mild venom for its prey, and a bite causes at most local swelling, which is why many sources simply call it harmless. It is not a pit viper or coral snake, the only U.S. land snakes with medically dangerous venom. Clean any bite like a small wound.
Which states have the eastern ribbonsnake?
Records are spread over 25 states; the top three, Florida, Michigan and North Carolina, hold 53% of them.
| # | State | Records | Share of state snakes | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florida | 754 | 3.6% | 4th of 49 |
| 2 | Michigan | 244 | 4.7% | 9th of 17 |
| 3 | North Carolina | 228 | 1.1% | 26th of 39 |
| 4 | Virginia | 127 | 1.2% | 21st of 30 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | 103 | 1.2% | 15th of 20 |
| 6 | South Carolina | 93 | 2.6% | 17th of 40 |
| 7 | Alabama | 92 | 1.6% | 23rd of 44 |
| 8 | New York | 89 | 1.5% | 12th of 17 |
| 9 | Mississippi | 84 | 4.5% | 7th of 38 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | 70 | 3.6% | 6th of 13 |
| 11 | Ohio | 63 | 1.0% | 16th of 25 |
| 12 | Georgia | 52 | 0.8% | 21st of 44 |
| 13 | Maryland | 51 | 1.4% | 15th of 20 |
| 14 | Indiana | 46 | 2.1% | 13th of 27 |
| 15 | Connecticut | 44 | 3.8% | 10th of 14 |
| 16 | New Hampshire | 30 | 5.1% | 5th of 9 |
| 17 | Maine | 26 | 3.0% | 7th of 9 |
| 18 | Tennessee | 23 | 0.9% | 22nd of 32 |
| 19 | West Virginia | 21 | 1.3% | 16th of 18 |
| 20 | New Jersey | 20 | 1.8% | 12th of 18 |
| 21 | Louisiana | 18 | 0.4% | 31st of 41 |
| 22 | Texas | 12 | 0.0% | 82nd of 86 |
| 23 | Delaware | 6 | 0.9% | 12th of 14 |
| 24 | Rhode Island | 4 | 2.0% | 5th of 10 |
| 25 | Illinois | 1 | 0.0% | 32nd of 33 |
When is the eastern ribbonsnake seen?
Across the U.S., observation records of the eastern ribbonsnake run through most of the year, peaking in March with 15% of them. Winter (December to February) holds 15% of them.
Season by state
Observation records run through most of the year in Florida and Mississippi. Among states whose main season falls within one calendar year, it starts earliest in March (Massachusetts, North Carolina and Virginia) and latest in April (Ohio). The most common peak months are March and May, each shared by two states.
| State | Main season | Peak month | Observation records |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | most of the year | March | 341 |
| Massachusetts | March through November | May | 58 |
| Virginia | March through October | March | 53 |
| Mississippi | most of the year | February | 46 |
| Ohio | April through September | May | 33 |
| North Carolina | March through October | April | 32 |
Where the eastern ribbonsnake is recorded in each state
Florida
Florida holds 754 licensed records, the 4th most recorded of 49 snakes listed there. Its observation records in Florida run through most of the year, peaking in March; most licensed records come from Miami-Dade County, Lee County and Alachua County. Next come Collier County (56) and Broward County (54).
Michigan
Michigan holds 244 licensed records, the 9th most recorded of 17 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in Michigan come from Washtenaw County, Huron County and Isabella County. Next come Cheboygan County (16) and Montcalm County (15).
North Carolina
North Carolina holds 228 licensed records, the 26th most recorded of 39 snakes listed there. Its observation records in North Carolina run mostly March through October, peaking in April; most licensed records come from Dare County, Hyde County and Wake County. Next come Beaufort County (18) and Currituck County (12).
Virginia
Virginia holds 127 licensed records, the 21st most recorded of 30 snakes listed there. Its observation records in Virginia run mostly March through October, peaking in March; most licensed records come from Fairfax County, James City County and Charlotte County. Next come New Kent County (8) and Virginia Beach (7).
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania holds 103 licensed records, the 15th most recorded of 20 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in Pennsylvania come from Allegheny County, Crawford County and Erie County. Next come Centre County (7) and Monroe County (5).
South Carolina
South Carolina holds 93 licensed records, the 17th most recorded of 40 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in South Carolina come from Charleston County, Berkeley County and Jasper County. Next come Dorchester County (7) and Colleton County (5).
Alabama
Alabama holds 92 licensed records, the 23rd most recorded of 44 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in Alabama come from Baldwin County, Lee County and Mobile County. Next come Covington County (4) and Madison County (4).
New York
New York holds 89 licensed records, the joint 12th most recorded of 17 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in New York come from Tompkins County, Livingston County and Monroe County. Next come Suffolk County (8) and Schuyler County (6).
Mississippi
Mississippi holds 84 licensed records, the 7th most recorded of 38 snakes listed there. Its observation records in Mississippi run through most of the year, peaking in February; most licensed records come from Jackson County, Lafayette County and Hancock County. Next come Simpson County (5) and Noxubee County (3).
Massachusetts
Massachusetts holds 70 licensed records, the 6th most recorded of 13 snakes listed there. Its observation records in Massachusetts run mostly March through November, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Barnstable County, Dukes County and Plymouth County. Next come Essex County (8) and Middlesex County (8).
Ohio
Ohio holds 63 licensed records, the 16th most recorded of 25 snakes listed there. Its observation records in Ohio run mostly April through September, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Summit County, Portage County and Geauga County. Next come Lucas County (5) and Williams County (5).
Georgia
Georgia holds 52 licensed records, the 21st most recorded of 44 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in Georgia come from Charlton County, Ware County and Chatham County. Next come Bryan County (4) and Baker County (3).
Maryland
Maryland holds 51 licensed records, the 15th most recorded of 20 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in Maryland come from Prince George's County, Montgomery County and Anne Arundel County. Next come Charles County (4) and Calvert County (3).
Indiana
Indiana holds 46 licensed records, the 13th most recorded of 27 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in Indiana come from Dubois County, Knox County and Pulaski County. Next come Steuben County (3) and Jackson County (2).
Connecticut
Connecticut holds 44 licensed records, the joint 10th most recorded of 14 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in Connecticut come from Middlesex County, New Haven County and Hartford County. Next come Litchfield County (4).
New Hampshire
New Hampshire holds 30 licensed records, the 5th most recorded of 9 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in New Hampshire come from Hillsborough County, Cheshire County and Rockingham County. Next come Strafford County (2) and Sullivan County (1).
Top counties in the U.S.
| # | County | State | Records | Share of U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Miami-Dade County | Florida | 103 | 4.5% |
| 2 | Lee County | Florida | 82 | 3.5% |
| 3 | Alachua County | Florida | 81 | 3.5% |
| 4 | Collier County | Florida | 56 | 2.4% |
| 5 | Broward County | Florida | 54 | 2.3% |
| 6 | Hendry County | Florida | 43 | 1.9% |
| 7 | Fairfax County | Virginia | 38 | 1.6% |
| 8 | Charleston County | South Carolina | 34 | 1.5% |
| 9 | Monroe County | Florida | 33 | 1.4% |
| 10 | Dare County | North Carolina | 33 | 1.4% |
| 11 | Allegheny County | Pennsylvania | 32 | 1.4% |
| 12 | Washtenaw County | Michigan | 29 | 1.3% |
| 13 | Huron County | Michigan | 28 | 1.2% |
| 14 | Isabella County | Michigan | 26 | 1.1% |
| 15 | Hyde County | North Carolina | 25 | 1.1% |
How recent are the eastern ribbonsnake records?
The eastern ribbonsnake record leans on older material: only 33% of dated U.S. records come from 2017–2026, and the median record is from 1982. The oldest dated record is from 1854; the busiest year was 2025, with 116 records.
| Decade | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 2 | 0.1% |
| 1860s | 3 | 0.1% |
| 1870s | 2 | 0.1% |
| 1880s | 7 | 0.3% |
| 1890s | 25 | 1.1% |
| 1900s | 75 | 3.3% |
| 1910s | 61 | 2.7% |
| 1920s | 42 | 1.8% |
| 1930s | 194 | 8.5% |
| 1940s | 159 | 7.0% |
| 1950s | 198 | 8.7% |
| 1960s | 187 | 8.2% |
| 1970s | 150 | 6.6% |
| 1980s | 167 | 7.4% |
| 1990s | 79 | 3.5% |
| 2000s | 84 | 3.7% |
| 2010s | 175 | 7.7% |
| 2020s | 662 | 29.1% |
Species recorded in the same counties
Of the 213 counties where the eastern ribbonsnake is most recorded, 107 are also top counties for the eastern racer, more than for any other snake. None of its closest neighbors is venomous.
| Species | Shared counties |
|---|---|
| Eastern racer | 107 |
| Eastern rat snake | 98 |
| DeKay's brown snake | 96 |
| Common garter snake | 94 |
| Northern water snake | 94 |
| Ring-necked snake | 84 |
| Eastern milksnake | 76 |
| Eastern hog-nosed snake | 72 |
Related species in the U.S.
Other species of the genus Thamnophis with profiles here: Western terrestrial garter snake, Common garter snake, Western ribbon snake, Aquatic garter snake, Northwestern garter snake, Western aquatic garter snake, Plains garter snake and Checkered garter snake.
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.