Venomous Snakes

There are six species of venomous snakes in North Carolina, some more dangerous than others.

A video of all six snakes is at the end of the article

Copperhead

The copperhead is found throughout North Carolina. It's a relatively small snake, with adults averaging less than three feet in length. This snake has a pale tan or pinkish-tan background color that darkens toward the mid-body area. It has a series of darker crossbands. It's a pit viper, which means it has a sensory pit located midway between the eye and nostril, on either side of its face to detect its warm-blooded prey. Of the six snakes listed here, the coral snake is the only species that is not a pit viper.

Although a copperhead bite can do a lot of tissue damage in the area of the bite, it rarely causes death. They only bite when they feel threatened, or when stepped on.

Of all the venomous snakes in North Carolina, the copperhead is most common; thus, this is the one you may encounter on a trail walk. In two years of year-round daily walking on the Salemtowne trails, I've only seen a large black snake.

Timber Rattlesnake

The timber or canebreak rattlesnake is found throughout North Carolina. Adults can reach a length of five feet or more. It has a color/pattern combination that helps it blend in with soil, rock, and leaf litter where it spends most of its time. They usually fall into one of two color patterns. The yellow phase has black or dark-brown bands on a lighter background of yellow or gray. The black phase has dark bands on a dark background and may appear totally black at first glance.

The timber rattlesnake has large fangs and produces lots of venom so a single bite can cause serious illness or death. However, it's not aggressive and will only strike a human when it feels threatened.

Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake

The eastern diamondback rattlesnake is probably the best known of all the venomous snakes in North Carolina and it can be found in the southeastern part of the state. The eastern diamondback rattlesnake is very stout and heavy-bodied; it's the heaviest of all the venomous snakes in North and South America and can weigh more than 20 pounds when fully grown. It has a background color that is either brownish, brownish-gray, brownish-yellow, gray, or olive. with a series of darker colored diamonds down its body. It is a protected species in North Carolina.

Although it's not particularly aggressive, it is large and powerful and has a potent hemotoxin that attacks red blood cells and tissue; the bite can be fatal if untreated. Avoid the snake if possible.

Pigmy Rattlesnake

Pigmy or dusky pigmy rattlesnake a relatively small species of rattlesnakes mostly found in the eastern part of North Carolina. The adults average 14 - 22 inches in length. The snake's rattle is very small and hard to hear. These rattlesnakes usually have reddish-orange markings that run down the back. While its venom causes serious pain and localized tissue damage; its bite is usually not life-threatening. It is a protected species in North Carolina.

Cottonmouth

Cottonmouth or water moccasin is often found near water where it mostly eats fish and frogs that are found in its semi-aquatic habitat. It inhabits the wetland areas in the eastern half of North Carolina. The "cottonmouth" name comes from the snake's tendency to open its mouth and hiss when threatened, displaying the inside of its mouth that is whitish-pink in color, which starkly contrasts the darker coloration of its body.

It has a broad head, a blunt snout, and usually a telltale stripe under each eye. Cottonmouths are mostly black and may appear completely black from a distance. Some may have a tan, gray, or brownish ground color with darker crossbands.

The cottonmouth has a reputation for being highly aggressive and may exhibit territorial behavior by approaching humans in an aggressive way. However, given the chance, they usually seek to avoid contact with humans.

Coral Snake

The coral snake inhabits the south and southeastern parts of the state but is rarely seen in the wild. They spend a lot of time burrowing and hiding under things. Unlike the other five snakes in this list, it is not a pit viper.

The coral snake color pattern makes it easy to identify. It has a series of rings or bands that run the entire length of its body. The wide red and black rings are separated by a narrow yellow ring. The color sequence is important since several non-venomous snakes have similar coloration, such as milk snakes and kingsnakes, however, on coral snakes, the red does not touch the yellow. If the red and yellow bands are touching, it's a coral snake; if the red and yellow bands are separated by black bands, then it's some other kind of snake. Hence the rhyme: red touch black, friend of Jack; Red touch yellow, kill a fellow

While the coral snake is highly venomous, it rarely bites humans. It is non-aggressive and secretive by nature although it will bite if it's handled or otherwise provoked. Its neurotoxic venom is more closely related to cobra venom than rattlesnake venom. It is a protected species in North Carolina.

Source: ReptileKnowledge