1Designating the Eastern Timber Rattlesnake as the Official
2Reptile of this Commonwealth.

3WHEREAS, The Eastern Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus
4horridus) is a large and venomous snake known to reach lengths
5of over 55 inches in this Commonwealth; and

6WHEREAS, Timber rattlesnakes have been recorded in 53 of
7Pennsylvania's 67 counties, from the Pocono Plateau of the
8northeast, the Appalachian range from the southcentral counties
9through the northcentral and northeastern counties, the
10Allegheny Plateau of the northwest and the Laurel Highlands in
11the southwest; and

12WHEREAS, The snake prefers higher-elevation woodlands with a
13diversity of habitat types, including stream corridors,
14blueberry thickets, rocky outcrops, reverting clear cuts, open
15meadows and utility rights-of-way.

16The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
17hereby enacts as follows:

1Section 1. Official State Reptile.

2The Eastern Timber Rattlesnake is selected, designated and
3adopted as the official reptile of the Commonwealth of
4Pennsylvania.

5Section 2. Effective date.

6This act shall take effect immediately.