How Many Venomous Snakes Are Actually Slithering Around In New Jersey?

Everyone in the Garden State is talking snakes after a hiker in Hopewell Township was hospitalized after being bitten by a copperhead. Prior to this, snakes in the Garden State wasn't exactly the most pressing topic on state residents, but now we have lots of questions. for instance, how many types of snakes are there in our state and how many of them are venomous?

Believe it or not, there are over 20 species of snake in our state (22 to be exact), according to nj.com, and that's way more than most of us expected or are comfortable with, Here's the good news. The vast majority of them are harmless to humans. But not all of them.

It turns out there are two venomous snakes slithering around the Garden State. We already know about the copperhead (northern copperhead to be exact) after hearing about the Hopewell Township story. if it makes you feel better, experts say the copperhead is one of the least common snakes in the state.

So what about the other venomous snake? it's called a Timber Rattlesnake. Yes, we said rattlesnake, right here in New Jersey. So, where in the state can you find those.? According to the NJDEP, they are in 3 areas of the state. They are the northernmost portion of the Highlands, the Pine Barrens, and the Kittatinny Ridge (which is 60 miles west of NYC).

I don't know about you, but the Highlands and the Pine Barrens sound way too close for me. So, add this to the list of things you have to keep in your already overtaxed mind here in the Garden State.

Experts say both poisonous New Jersey snakes are reclusive, so you'd have to be pretty unlucky to encounter one. That makes me feel much better.