6 Snakes That Can Climb Trees (and 6 That Prefer to Stay Grounded)

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Mathew Abraham

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Mathew Abraham

Meet Mathew, Cat Dad and Animal Advocate! Mathew is the editor at PawDown, overseeing content strategy and quality. He's in charge of carefully curating the best pet stories, tips, and advice for you.

A Garter Snake
tdfugere/PixaBay

Snakes are among nature’s most versatile creatures, thriving in a wide range of environments. While some are master climbers, gracefully navigating treetops, others prefer to stay firmly grounded, relying on burrowing or camouflaging skills. Here we highlight six snakes that excel in tree-climbing and six others that embrace life on the ground. From the gliding abilities of Paradise Flying Snakes to the stealthy burrowing habits of Brahminy Blind Snakes, you’ll discover how these fascinating reptiles adapt to their chosen habitats.

1. Paradise Flying Snakes: Masters of Gliding

kuritafsheen77/Freepik

Paradise flying snakes are remarkable creatures found in Southeast Asia. They have the unique ability to flatten their bodies and glide between trees. Using their muscular abdomens, they launch themselves off branches and can glide up to 30 feet. Mid-air, these snakes undulate their bodies to steer in their desired direction. This impressive agility even surpasses that of flying squirrels. If you ever spot one, you’ll notice their vibrant colors and sleek bodies, perfectly suited for tree-dwelling. 

2. Golden Lanceheads: Venomous Tree Hunters

elevashroom/Reddit

Golden lanceheads, exclusive to Snake Island off Brazil’s coast, are a unique species of pit vipers. These snakes climb trees in pursuit of birds, their primary prey. Their venom is highly potent, designed to immobilize birds instantly. This allows the snake to capture its meal before it escapes. While they occasionally descend, they’re adept at maneuvering through the island’s trees. Snake enthusiasts admire their unique adaptations, but their deadly reputation serves as a reminder of how dangerous they can be.

3. Western Rat Snakes: Climbers with Specialized Scales

Close-up of a Western Rat Snake with a patterned brown and orange body, slithering over rocky terrain.
Wirestock/Freepik

Western rat snakes, also known as black snakes, are exceptional climbers thanks to their specialized belly scales. These scales grip rough surfaces, allowing them to ascend tree trunks effortlessly. Found across North America, these snakes can climb over 20 feet high to search for bird eggs, rodents, and other prey. They even lay eggs in tree hollows if conditions are right. Despite their climbing prowess, they’re equally at home on the ground, frequenting forests and residential areas. Their opportunistic feeding habits make them vital for controlling pest populations.

4. Rough Green Snakes: A Life Among Branches

Rough green snake
kampwit/123RF

Rough green snakes, native to the eastern United States, are arboreal specialists. Their vibrant green bodies blend seamlessly with leaves, providing excellent camouflage. These snakes thrive in areas with abundant water sources, as they often drink dew from leaves. Insects like crickets, grasshoppers, and caterpillars form their primary diet, but they’ll also consume spiders and small amphibians. Spending most of their lives in trees, they occasionally swim or descend for ground-dwelling prey. 

5. Brown Tree Snakes: Lassoing Their Way Up

Storme Kovacs/Pixabay

Brown tree snakes, especially the Guam population, exhibit a unique climbing method. They form a lasso with their bodies around a tree and lift themselves incrementally. This adaptation allows them to climb smooth surfaces with ease. Native to Papua New Guinea, Australia, and Indonesia, these snakes are invasive in Guam, where they’ve devastated native bird populations. Although venomous, their bite is harmless to humans but lethal to small prey. Efforts to control their spread include baiting with acetaminophen-laced traps, which target their susceptibility to the drug.

6. Twig Snakes: Masters of Ambush

Petrus Bester/Pexels

Twig snakes, also known as vine snakes, are ambush predators native to southern Africa. Their slender, vine-like bodies and horizontal pupils enable them to blend seamlessly with foliage. They perch on low branches, waiting for prey such as lizards or birds to come within striking range. Remarkably, they’ll even sway with the wind to avoid detection. These snakes possess rear fangs that deliver potent venom, capable of causing fatalities even with treatment. Despite their danger, they are non-aggressive and rarely bite humans.

7. Garter Snakes: The Versatile Ground Dwellers

Garter Snake
Sexual_Ankylosaurus/Reddit

Garter snakes are among the most common ground-dwelling species you’re likely to encounter. These snakes, typically 2-3.5 feet long, have distinct yellow stripes on a brown background. They thrive in various habitats, including wetlands, fields, forests, and even residential areas. You might find them basking on rocks or wood piles, but they rarely venture into trees. Garter snakes rely on mildly toxic saliva to subdue amphibians and other small prey. While non-venomous to humans, their bites can cause mild swelling or a rash. 

8. Sand Boas: Underground Specialists

kenyan sand boa
The Reptilarium – CC BY-SA 2.0,/Wikimedia Commons

Sand boas are fascinating snakes adapted to a life beneath the surface. These non-venomous constrictors, found in North America, Africa, Asia, and Europe, burrow in sandy or loose soils. Their cylindrical bodies and small eyes make them perfect for navigating underground. Growing up to four feet, sand boas spend most of their time hidden, emerging only to ambush unsuspecting prey. Unlike arboreal snakes, these boas remain firmly grounded, relying on their stealth and burrowing skills for survival.

9. Hognose Snakes: Masters of the Dirt

Closeup of a Hognose Snake
snibl111/PixaBay

Hognose snakes are small, harmless ground dwellers with a unique upturned, pig-like nose. This adaptation helps them dig through soil and leaf litter as they hunt for prey. These snakes, typically under two feet long, are found across North America. You’ll often spot them in loose soil or under debris, but rarely climbing. Known for their dramatic defensive displays, including playing dead, they’re harmless to humans despite their intimidating behavior. Hognose snakes exemplify how some species prefer a grounded existence, relying on their burrowing skills to thrive in their environment.

10. Brahminy Blind Snakes: The Tiny Underground Hunters

Candid-Technician690/Reddit

Brahminy blind snakes, also called flowerpot snakes, are among the smallest burrowing snakes in the world. Originally from Southeast Asia, they’ve now spread to other warm, humid regions, including Florida. These snakes rarely grow beyond one foot and look more like shiny black worms than traditional snakes. You’ll find them beneath soil or leaf litter, where they feed on ant eggs and pupae. Despite their tiny size, these snakes are incredibly efficient hunters underground. Harmless to humans, Brahminy blind snakes showcase how some species have fully embraced a life beneath the surface.

11. Black-Headed Pythons: Powerful Yet Grounded

A Black Headed Python
istara/Reddit

Native to northern Australia, black-headed pythons are striking snakes with distinctive black heads and tan bodies. Growing up to six feet long, these snakes prefer staying on the ground, often hiding under loose soil or rocks. Black-headed pythons are non-venomous but powerful predators, feeding on other reptiles, including snakes. Their burrowing habits make them well-suited for life in their arid environment. For snake enthusiasts, these snakes are fascinating not only for their unique appearance but also for their preference to remain grounded, avoiding trees and other elevated habitats.

12. Woma Pythons: Masters of Burrowing

A Woma Python
Brian Gratwicke, CC BY 2.0/Wikimedia Commons

Woma pythons, also known as sand pythons, are another Australian species that prefer life on the ground. These snakes have small heads and tan bodies with faint stripes, growing up to five feet long. They’re commonly found under rotting logs or leaf litter, where they hunt reptiles and small mammals. Like other burrowing snakes, woma pythons avoid climbing, relying instead on their camouflage and burrowing abilities for protection. If you’re exploring Australia’s outback, you might come across these incredible snakes, perfectly adapted to their environment.

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