Queen snake (Regina septemvittata)
The queen snake is a non-venomous snake in the family Colubridae. GBIF holds 2,128 licensed U.S. records of it; it reaches our listing threshold in 18 states, most of all Pennsylvania (566), North Carolina (341) and Ohio (323). Its observation records peak in May.
The queen snake (Regina septemvittata) is a species of nonvenomous semiaquatic snake, a member of the subfamily Natricinae of the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to North America.
From Wikipedia: Queen snake, text under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Is the queen snake poisonous or venomous?
No. The queen snake is non-venomous: it belongs to the family Colubridae, not to the pit vipers or coral snakes, the only U.S. land snakes with medically dangerous venom. It may bite if handled; clean the bite like any small wound.
Which states have the queen snake?
Records are spread over 18 states; the top three, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Ohio, hold 58% of them.
| # | State | Records | Share of state snakes | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pennsylvania | 566 | 6.7% | 4th of 20 |
| 2 | North Carolina | 341 | 1.6% | 20th of 39 |
| 3 | Ohio | 323 | 5.3% | 4th of 25 |
| 4 | Alabama | 188 | 3.3% | 11th of 44 |
| 5 | Virginia | 162 | 1.5% | 17th of 30 |
| 6 | West Virginia | 111 | 6.8% | 4th of 18 |
| 7 | Indiana | 95 | 4.3% | 7th of 27 |
| 8 | Tennessee | 63 | 2.4% | 13th of 32 |
| 9 | Michigan | 60 | 1.2% | 14th of 17 |
| 10 | Maryland | 58 | 1.6% | 14th of 20 |
| 11 | Kentucky | 44 | 3.4% | 12th of 24 |
| 12 | South Carolina | 31 | 0.9% | 29th of 40 |
| 13 | Georgia | 28 | 0.5% | 26th of 44 |
| 14 | Illinois | 25 | 0.9% | 22nd of 33 |
| 15 | New York | 20 | 0.3% | 15th of 17 |
| 16 | Florida | 4 | 0.0% | 49th of 49 |
| 17 | Delaware | 2 | 0.3% | 14th of 14 |
| 18 | Arkansas | 1 | 0.0% | 35th of 36 |
When is the queen snake seen?
Across the U.S., observation records of the queen snake run mostly March through September, peaking in May with 19% of them. Winter (December to February) holds 3% of them.
Season by state
Among states whose main season falls within one calendar year, it starts earliest in January (North Carolina) and latest in April (Ohio). Each of these states peaks in a different month: April in Virginia, May in Tennessee, June in Ohio and July in North Carolina.
| State | Main season | Peak month | Observation records |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | January through September | July | 44 |
| Virginia | March through September | April | 39 |
| Tennessee | March through September | May | 38 |
| Ohio | April through September | June | 33 |
Where the queen snake is recorded in each state
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania holds 566 licensed records, the 4th most recorded of 20 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in Pennsylvania come from Allegheny County, Westmoreland County and Washington County. Next come Armstrong County (24) and Greene County (22).
North Carolina
North Carolina holds 341 licensed records, the 20th most recorded of 39 snakes listed there. Its observation records in North Carolina run mostly January through September, peaking in July; most licensed records come from Watauga County, Orange County and Chatham County. Next come Wake County (24) and Graham County (16).
Ohio
Ohio holds 323 licensed records, the 4th most recorded of 25 snakes listed there. Its observation records in Ohio run mostly April through September, peaking in June; most licensed records come from Montgomery County, Brown County and Erie County. Next come Geauga County (19) and Delaware County (14).
Alabama
Alabama holds 188 licensed records, the 11th most recorded of 44 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in Alabama come from Lauderdale County, Jackson County and Lee County. Next come Cleburne County (16) and Colbert County (16).
Virginia
Virginia holds 162 licensed records, the joint 17th most recorded of 30 snakes listed there. Its observation records in Virginia run mostly March through September, peaking in April; most licensed records come from Tazewell County, Scott County and Montgomery County. Next come Rockbridge County (9) and Richmond (8).
West Virginia
West Virginia holds 111 licensed records, the 4th most recorded of 18 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in West Virginia come from Marshall County, Randolph County and Preston County. Next come Marion County (7) and Tyler County (7).
Indiana
Indiana holds 95 licensed records, the 7th most recorded of 27 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in Indiana come from Jasper County, Marion County and Wayne County. Next come Montgomery County (5) and Parke County (5).
Tennessee
Tennessee holds 63 licensed records, the 13th most recorded of 32 snakes listed there. Its observation records in Tennessee run mostly March through September, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Cheatham County, Sullivan County and Rutherford County. Next come Davidson County (5) and Knox County (4).
Michigan
Michigan holds 60 licensed records, the 14th most recorded of 17 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in Michigan come from Washtenaw County, Oakland County and Kent County. Next come Wayne County (2) and Ingham County (1).
Maryland
Maryland holds 58 licensed records, the 14th most recorded of 20 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in Maryland come from Garrett County, Montgomery County and Prince George's County. Next come Frederick County (8) and Baltimore County (6).
Kentucky
Kentucky holds 44 licensed records, the 12th most recorded of 24 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in Kentucky come from Boone County, Jessamine County and Kenton County. Next come Scott County (3) and Wayne County (2).
South Carolina
South Carolina holds 31 licensed records, the joint 29th most recorded of 40 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in South Carolina come from Barnwell County, Pickens County and Greenville County. Next come Oconee County (3) and Lexington County (2).
Top counties in the U.S.
| # | County | State | Records | Share of U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Allegheny County | Pennsylvania | 132 | 6.2% |
| 2 | Westmoreland County | Pennsylvania | 116 | 5.5% |
| 3 | Washington County | Pennsylvania | 109 | 5.1% |
| 4 | Montgomery County | Ohio | 66 | 3.1% |
| 5 | Watauga County | North Carolina | 52 | 2.4% |
| 6 | Washtenaw County | Michigan | 42 | 2.0% |
| 7 | Orange County | North Carolina | 38 | 1.8% |
| 8 | Lauderdale County | Alabama | 32 | 1.5% |
| 9 | Marshall County | West Virginia | 28 | 1.3% |
| 10 | Jasper County | Indiana | 25 | 1.2% |
| 11 | Brown County | Ohio | 25 | 1.2% |
| 12 | Chatham County | North Carolina | 24 | 1.1% |
| 13 | Wake County | North Carolina | 24 | 1.1% |
| 14 | Armstrong County | Pennsylvania | 24 | 1.1% |
| 15 | Tazewell County | Virginia | 23 | 1.1% |
How recent are the queen snake records?
The queen snake record leans on older material: only 14% of dated U.S. records come from 2017–2026, and the median record is from 1963. The oldest dated record is from 1847; the busiest year was 1946, with 174 records.
| Decade | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1840s | 3 | 0.1% |
| 1850s | 4 | 0.2% |
| 1860s | 2 | 0.1% |
| 1870s | 1 | 0.0% |
| 1880s | 4 | 0.2% |
| 1890s | 87 | 4.3% |
| 1900s | 74 | 3.7% |
| 1910s | 15 | 0.7% |
| 1920s | 41 | 2.0% |
| 1930s | 187 | 9.3% |
| 1940s | 370 | 18.4% |
| 1950s | 149 | 7.4% |
| 1960s | 283 | 14.1% |
| 1970s | 138 | 6.9% |
| 1980s | 279 | 13.9% |
| 1990s | 48 | 2.4% |
| 2000s | 32 | 1.6% |
| 2010s | 42 | 2.1% |
| 2020s | 250 | 12.4% |
Species recorded in the same counties
Of the 168 counties where the queen snake is most recorded, 85 are also top counties for the eastern rat snake, more than for any other snake. None of its closest neighbors is venomous.
| Species | Shared counties |
|---|---|
| Eastern rat snake | 85 |
| Northern water snake | 84 |
| Common garter snake | 76 |
| DeKay's brown snake | 69 |
| Ring-necked snake | 67 |
| Eastern racer | 63 |
| Eastern wormsnake | 53 |
| Eastern milksnake | 52 |
Related species in the U.S.
Other members of the family Colubridae with profiles here: Western terrestrial garter snake, Common garter snake, Gopher snake, Ring-necked snake, Northern water snake and Eastern racer.
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.