*The colored areas of the map above represent parishes with currently known records for the given species (Source: Jeff Boundy, LA Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries). By no means does it represent the full range of the species in the state, nor does it necessarily mean that a species can be found throughout the parish with the record. This is provided as a guide to where you might be able to find these species in the state and to aid in identification. A descriptive explanation of the range of each species can be found in the text below.
Other Common Names:
Subspecies: Only the Eastern Coachwhip, Masticophis flagellum flagellum, occurs within Louisiana.
Description:
Similar Species:
Species Range:
Louisiana Range: The Florida Parishes, and central and northern Louisiana, but absent from the Mississippi River floodplain and southern Louisiana.
Habitat:
Natural History:
Best Time and Place to Observe:
Global Conservation Status: Common Coachwhips are listed as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List. Their NatureServe Global Conservation Status Rank is G5 (Secure).
Federal Conservation Status: None
Louisiana Conservation Status: Common Coachwhips do not have any special status in Louisiana.
Author's Remarks: I have only observed this species four times in the state. Once was in a box trap in Kisatchie in 2013 and the second time was in another box trap in Bienville Parish in 2015. I saw a juvenile on the LARE field trip in late 2019 to Fullerton Lake in Vernon Parish. I saw a nice adult along the trail to Castor Creek in October 2025. I have only ever observed eight other individuals - one in southern Mississippi, a big adult in southern Missouri, a juvenile near St. Louis in the picture to the left, an adult near Columbia, Mississippi, and five adults and a juvenile in Big Thicket near Beaumont, Texas.
