Northern Pine Snake
Pituophis melanoleucus melanoleucus

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                                                         photo by Zach Felix
Species Description:  These snakes can be over 6 feet long, though most are between 4 and 5 feet (1.2 - 1.5 m).  It has irregular, squarish, dark blotches on a white or dirty yellow background.  The belly is bright white with a series of dark blotches down each side.  The rostral plate (on the nose) is enlarged and curves backward between the internasals.  There are four prefrontal scales rather than the two on other colubrid snakes.  

Habitat:  This snake is associated with sandy, driy soil.  In Virginia and bordering areas of southern West Virginia, the pine snake inhabits sandy areas with pine, scrub oak, as well as brushy and cultivated fields and upland dry forests.  It tends to burrow and be very secretive.  For this reason, very few records exist for the pine snake in much of its range.  

Breeding Activity:  These snakes deposit about 12 eggs in June or July and hatch around the middle of September.  Little information is known about mating or courtship.

Range:  This snake ranges from sourthern New Jersey, south to the piedmont of the Carolinas, west into Kentucky, Tennessee, and Alabama.  In West Virginia, only 1 specimen has been collected.  Two individuals on the same day were found on the road near Waiteville, WV, Monroe County in June 1940.  Since then, there has not been another sighting of the pine snake in West Virginia.  This snake probably occurs along the border with Virginia in Mercer, Monroe, Greenbrier, and possibly Pocahontas and Pendleton Counties.  These areas of the state are very dry pine forest habitats.

Comments:  This snake hisses very loudly when approached. They are harmless however.  

IF YOU FIND A PINE SNAKE IN WEST VIRGINIA PLEASE REPORT IT TO THE WVDNR OR CALL THOMAS K. PAULEY AT MARSHALL UNIVERSITY!  If possible, take a picture.  THANKS!

Status:  Species of Special Concern.  Information Lacking.