Poisonous Snakes In NC: Identify All The North Carolina Copperheads!

There are a total of six species of venomous snakes in North Carolina.

The pigmy rattlesnake is a venomous snake in the group Viperidae's suborder Crotalinae. The pigmy rattlesnake species is only found in the southern United States and there are currently three subspecies recognized.

The lines of dorsal scales at the midbody are generally in 23 rows. The dorsal sequence is made up of a series of oblong or sub-circular patches with fairly regular corners.

The flank areas appear to be mostly spherical and not much taller than wide.

Belly coloration is more restricted towards the back, consisting of indiscernible smudges on pairs of adjoining scales. Youngsters have a comparable color scheme to adults, though they may be lighter yellow-skinned or even more vibrantly highlighted, and the edge of the tail is bright yellow.

The second is the cottonmouth snake. Cottonmouth snakes are pit vipers that belong to the suborder Crotalinae of the Viperidae family.

It is the world's only semiaquatic viper and therefore is endemic to the southern United States. As an adult, the cottonmouth is huge and competent at inflicting an excruciating and possibly lethal bite if bitten. Once confronted, it may wind its body and show its sharp teeth.

These snakes could bite if they perceive a threat or if they are being controlled in any manner. It is found in or near the water habitat, most notably in slow-moving and narrow lakes, creeks, and marshland habitats.

It is a competent swimmer and, like many other species of snake, inhabits docks and coastal areas and swims among coastal regions and mountains on the mainland.

The third is the timber rattlesnake. The timber rattlesnake is classified as Endangered.

The timber rattlesnake is black in color. The timber rattlesnake is the only rattlesnake lifeform in almost all of the densely populated northeastern United States, but timber rattlesnakes are the most northerly dispersed venomous snake in North America, behind only its relatives to the west or the prairie rattlesnake.

The fourth is the eastern coral snake. Micrurus fulvius, also recognized as the eastern coral snake, common coral snake, American cobra, and other names, is really a venomous species of coral snake from the Elapidae family. The eastern coral snake species is only found in the southeastern United States. These snakes lay their eggs around mountains and water bodies.

The fifth is the eastern diamondback rattlesnake. The eastern diamondback rattlesnake is a venomous pit viper in the Viperidae family. This species is only found in the southeastern United States.

It is the biggest rattlesnake and one of the heaviest venomous snakes throughout the Americas. There are no recognized subspecies. A dark brownish, yellow dark brown, grayish brown, or olive green ground color is superimposed with something like a sequence of shadowy dark brown to black diamond-shaped patches with lighter color centers.

The last is the copperhead snake. It is a very venomous and dangerous snake and is found in North Carolina.

After reading about poisonous snakes in NC, also read about if snakes have bones and if snakes eat frogs.

What is the most dangerous snake in North Carolina?

The copperhead is by far the most violent snake in North Carolina since it is the only venomous snake visitors are likely to discover in so many parts of the state.

The copperhead is much more likely to be found close to human residences than other venomous reptiles, and it accounts for the overwhelming bulk of venomous snakebites. Luckily, the venom of a copperhead snake is comparatively benign even though it has powerful venom.

Bites are distressing, but copperhead bite mortality rates are extremely low. When appropriate medical attention is garnered, the bite usually does not result in permanent injuries sustained. Any venomous snakebite must always be treated medically.

Identifying Venomous / Poisonous Snakes In NC

Vast numbers of snakes can be found in North America, hiding under bushes near your camping site, along walking trails, and even in your own back garden.

You can identify if these animals are venomous or not by observing them. A venomous snake will have elliptical, slit-like yellow eyes, similar to those of a cat, instead of round pupils.

Get back if you notice a snake rattling its tail. Rattling is an immediate warning sign that you are about to come into contact with a rattlesnake. When a harmless snake drags its tail through dry leaves, the tail makes a rattling sound.

Heads of venomous snakes are typically broad and triangular. This may appear strange because most snakes' heads are similar, but the distinction in shape is visible near the snake's mouth.

Non-Venomous Snakes Of North Carolina

There are 31 non-venomous snakes in North Carolina.

Some of the most popular species are as follows: the black rat snake, the coachwhip snake, the rainbow snake, the eastern kingsnake, the Carolina swamp snake, the mole kingsnake, the corn snake, the eastern hognose snake, the queen snake, the eastern milk snake, and the brown water snake.

Tiny harmless ground snakes present here include worm snakes, smooth earth snakes, pine woods snakes, ringneck snakes, brown snakes, red-bellied snakes, south-eastern crowned snakes.

Differentiating Between The Two

One factor that may aid in snake identification is behavior. Observing nesting behaviors and familiarity with habitats can also aid in the identification of presumably venomous or non-venomous reptiles.

Snakes with venomous bites have a distinguishable head shape. Non-venomous reptiles have rounded heads, whereas venomous snakes have triangle heads. Predators may be deterred by the shape of a venomous snake's head. Even so, by compressing their heads, some non-venomous snakes can imitate the triangle shape of venomous snakes.

Potential predators may perceive them as more dangerous as a result. Holes on their heads differentiate these venomous snakes. Each snake has two different pits on the tip of its nose.

Coexisting With NC Snakes

According to the North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission, approximately 70% of snake bites occur when people attempt to kill or handle snakes.

A few snakes could become hostile if provoked, but most will leave people alone if they are not threatened and have a way to escape. Keeping an eye out for other snakes and keeping a safe distance from them is an effective way to avoid snake bites.

Sweep up trash and garbage such as sticks and boulder piles, maintain your lawn, close gaps and crevasses in your exterior walls and groundwork, and fill in openings under gates, in window frames, and around water pipes to render your property less inviting to most snakes.

Snakes are an essential part of the environment because they help regulate the population numbers of rodents, rats, slugs, and insects.

Sadly, some of North Carolina's 37 native species are already Endangered and are classified as Threatened. We must do our best to coexist with them and not harm their habitat.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for poisonous snakes in NC then take a look at do snakes drink water or do rattlesnakes lay eggs.