The Colubridae family of snakes represents all nonvenomous snakes in West Virginia. This snake family has 19 species in the Mountaineer State. Colubrid snakes use constriction, or suffocation, to capture and kill their prey. Also, nonvenomous snakes have round pupils as opposed to venomous snakes, which have slit-shaped pupils. King snakes make up the largest contingency of colubrid snakes in West Virginia with three: eastern king snake, eastern milk snake and black king snake. Other colubrid snakes in West Virginia are garter snakes -- common ribbon snake and eastern garter snake -- northern black racer, northern pine snake, queen snake and northern ring-necked snake.
The Latrodectus genus of spiders represent black widows, the only venomous spider in West Virginia. In the Mountaineer State black widows are split into two subspecies, northern and southern black widows. Northern black widows (Latrodectus variolus) primarily live throughout the state, and southern black widows (Latrodectus mactans) live in the southern region of the state. Only female black widows are dangerously venomous to human beings. Black widows may be identified by red hourglass-shaped markings on the underside of their abdomen; the rest of their bodies are solid black.
West Virginia is home to two venomous snakes, the northern copperhead and timber rattlesnake. These two snakes belong to the Viperidae family of snakes. Viperidae snakes are also known as pit vipers because of the grooves embedded on the side of the snakes' heads. These grooves are for sensing the heat of warm-blooded mammals, which are a staple of northern copperhead and timber rattlesnake's diets. To paralyze their prey, these venomous snakes inject venom from their fangs into their prey's body. When alarmed, northern copperheads and timber rattlesnakes shake their tails prior to striking; timber rattlesnakes have rattles on the end of their tails.
Wolf spiders are in the Lycosidae family of spiders and one of the most common spiders in West Virginia. This spider is large and hairy, which gives it a fearsome appearance. However, wolf spiders do not have enough venom to cause any serious damage to human beings. Their prey have much to fear, though, because wolf spiders are quick and easily overtake their prey in a footrace. Since they are hunters, wolf spiders do not build webs. Wolf spider offspring will ride on their mother's back until they can support themselves.