The species' habitats include rocky prairie, wooded hillsides, rocky forest edges, pine-oak uplands, oak-juniper brakes, pine woods, moist deciduous woods, thorn woodland, and grass-brushland (Dundee and Rossman 1989, Tennant 1998, Werler and Dixon 2000, Ernst and Ernst 2003, Trauth et al. 2004). This semi-fossorial snake often is found under rocks or logs after spring or summer rains. Eggs are laid in shallow underground hollows, under rocks (e.g., Cobb 1990), or in decaying vegetation.

This species' range extends from eastern Kansas, Missouri, and southwestern Illinois south through Oklahoma and Arkansas to central Louisiana, Texas in the United States, and adjacent Coahuila and Tamaulipas, in Mexico (Conant and Collins 1991, Ernst and Ernst 2003).

Many occurrences of this species are in protected areas. However, in some areas, this may not be sufficient for long-term persistence (see Threats information).