West Virginia snakes: ID chart
23 snakes, 2 venomous (listed first). Last checked November 3, 2026.
The 2 venomous snakes come first: Eastern Copperhead, Timber Rattlesnake. The rest follow from A to Z, each with a photo where we have one and a short note on where it lives in West Virginia. The chart prints on letter or A4 paper; on screen, open any name on the West Virginia snakes page for photos, range and sources.
Eastern Copperhead
Agkistrodon contortrix
Venomous
Copperheads exist throughout the state
Timber Rattlesnake
Crotalus horridus
Venomous
Rattlers usually occur in remote, rocky, mountainous sections of the state
Common Ribbonsnake
Thamnophis s. saurita
Non-venomous
Few records exist for Ribbonsnakes in West Virginia.
Common Watersnake
Nerodia s. sipedon
Non-venomous
This is a very common and widely distributed species
Cornsnake
Pantherophis guttatus
Non-venomous
Cornsnakes have been collected in Eastern Panhandle farmlands
Dekay’s Brownsnake
Storeria dekayi
Non-venomous
Eastern Black Kingsnake
Lampropeltis g. niger
Non-venomous
It has been collected in Cabell, Kanawha, Lincoln, Mason, Putnam and Wayne counties.
Eastern Gartersnake
Thamnophis s. sirtalis
Non-venomous
Gartersnakes are common in West Virginia.
Eastern Hog-nosed Snake
Heterodon platirhinos
Non-venomous
They occur throughout the state
Eastern Kingsnake
Lampropeltis nigra
Non-venomous
Eastern Kingsnakes are found only in the valley of the South Branch of the Potomac River.
Eastern Milksnake
Lampropeltis t. triangulum
Non-venomous
Milksnakes occur throughout the state
Eastern Ratsnake
Pantherophis alleghaniensis
Non-venomous
Eastern Smooth Earthsnake
Virginia v. valeriae
Non-venomous
Eastern Wormsnake
Carphophis a. amoenus
Non-venomous
Wormsnakes have been collected throughout the state
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Mountain Earthsnake
Virginia valeriae pulchra
Non-venomous
Reported from Pendleton, Pocahontas, Preston and Randolph counties and may occur in other nearby counties
Northern Black Racer
Coluber c. constrictor
Non-venomous
Black Racers occur throughout the state
Northern Pinesnake
Pituophis m. melanoleucus
Non-venomous
In West Virginia it is known from only one section of Monroe County where just one specimen has been …
Northern Ring-necked Snake
Diadophis punctatus edwardsii
Non-venomous
Ring-necks are widely distributed throughout the state.
Northern Rough Greensnake
Opheodrys a. aestivus
Non-venomous
They occur at low elevations in the western and central parts of the state but are absent in the mountains
Queen Snake
Regina septemvittata
Non-venomous
They are found throughout the state, especially in small, rocky creeks and rivers.
Red-bellied Snake
Storeria occipitomaculata
Non-venomous
Red-bellied Snakes may be found throughout the state in wooded areas
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Smooth Greensnake
Opheodrys vernalis
Non-venomous
It occurs only in the mountainous areas of eastern West Virginia
A picture cannot confirm what an animal is or that it is safe. Never handle a wild animal. Sources: Amphibians & Reptiles (WVDNR); Snakes Alive! (WVDNR); Living with Rattlesnakes (WVDNR). stateswildlife.com/west-virginia/snakes/