Venomous snakes in West Virginia

Venomous snakes living in West Virginia

2species

Timber rattlesnake, Copperhead. A bite from the timber rattlesnake is a medical emergency.

How to recognize them

• Timber rattlesnakeDangerous51 records, 16 counties
• CopperheadMedically significant46 records, 25 counties

Timber rattlesnake Crotalus horridus

• Dark V- or chevron-shaped bands across the back
• Black tail ending in a rattle
• Yellow, tan or dark phases; some are almost black

Copperhead Agkistrodon contortrix

• Copper to tan body with dark hourglass bands: wide on the sides, narrow on the spine
• Plain coppery head with no pattern
• Young snakes have a bright yellow-green tail tip

Every venomous snake species known from the US is on this site.

Counties with records

Active months

Harmless snakes people mistake for them

• Copperhead vs Northern Water Snake Northern water snake: harmless
• Copperhead vs Rat Snake Rat snake: harmless
• Copperhead vs Milk Snake Milk snake: harmless
• Copperhead vs Hognose Snake Eastern hognose snake: harmless

• Water snakeHarmlessHarmless
• Northern water snakeHarmlessHarmless
• Eastern hognose snakeHarmlessHarmless
• Rat snakeHarmlessHarmless
• Milk snakeHarmlessHarmless

Quick answers

• Lives here Are there rattlesnakes in West Virginia?
• Lives here Are there copperheads in West Virginia?
• Not here Are there cottonmouths in West Virginia?

More for West Virginia

• All venomous animals in West Virginia
• Venomous spiders in West Virginia
• Scorpions in West Virginia
• Centipedes in West Virginia

Venomous snakes in neighboring states

• Kentucky
• Maryland
• Ohio
• Pennsylvania
• Virginia