The Weather Is Perfect To Encounter Dangerous Snakes In North Carolina
It’s very hot and humid in North Carolina. The weather conditions are just perfect for the beast that slither on their stomachs. Snakes are out and moving around this time of year. The weather is perfect to encounter dangerous snakes in North Carolina.
WCNC.com says that there are 37 different types of snakes in North Carolina. They do a good job of taking care of the rodent population. So if you have lots of mice or rats around, odds are good that you have a snake or two also.
Most snakes are helpful, but we do have some venomous types in North Carolina. You need to know and recognize these types.
Here are six types of venomous snakes in North Carolina:
- The Copperhead
- Cottonmouth
- Eastern coral snake
- Pygmy rattlesnake
- Diamondback rattlesnake
- Timber rattlesnake
Most of the snakes found in North Carolina are not dangerous. They can be as long as three feet long. Some have been even longer.
Weather plays a big part in the snakes’ movement. They hibernate in the Winter but are very active during the Summer and early Fall. The weather is perfect to encounter dangerous snakes in North Carolina.
A North Carolina Wildlife expert Jeff Hall says snakes are generally not going to bother you — unless you bother them. “Hold your step a second, give the animal time and space,” he explained. “It’s going to go on about its business, doing whatever it’s doing. It doesn’t really want to be caught by you, found by you, touched by you. It wants to go on and do about its business.”
For anyone afraid of snakes, Hall said those fears are even worse for the snake itself. “It’s much more afraid of you than you are of it.”
So when you are out be aware of where you are and always wear shoes. Snakes love to hang out near a water source and in wooded areas. Chances are if they hear you coming, they will move on.
North Carolina has Six Venomous Snakes On Our Ultimate Snake List
Cottonmouth: Venomous Snake in North Carolina
Every year I see probably about ten of these lovely creatures. They make me jump out of my skin. This venomous snake is also called Water Moccasin. This is the most common venomous snake out of the six. It is found literally everywhere throughout North Carolina. The bites for these bad boys are he bites are pretty painful, but deaths from copperhead bites are extremely rare. You can see more on this snake here.
The Longest Snake in the World
This is a worthwhile one if you like snakes. The average length of a reticulated python is 20 feet. That’s the length of two basketball hoops! These snakes are found in southeast Asia. The habitat preferences of these animals appear to depend on their location, but they enjoy rainforests, woodlands, and grasslands. You can see more on this snake here.
Eastern Coral Snake: Venomous Snake in North Carolina
Though I love the colors, I wouldn’t get close to them! The Eastern Coral Snake is often referred to as the candy stick snake. It is normally the most misidentified snake found in North Carolina. In the southern Coastal Plain from North Carolina to Louisiana, including Florida, the eastern coral snake is scattered. Throughout their range, they can be found grazing in areas of scrub oak sandhills and pine Flatwoods that flood seasonally. You can’t legally kill the Eastern Coral Snake due to their endangered status. You can see more on this snake here.
Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake: Venomous Snake in North Carolina
Just seeing photos of this snake gives me nightmares. Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake is the largest and perhaps the most dangerous species of rattlesnake in the world. The backs of these heavy-bodied pitvipers are covered with black diamond patterns outlined in dark diamonds. In North Carolina, diamondbacks are usually found in sandy pine Flatwoods in the southeastern Coastal Plain. You can’t legally kill the Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake due to their endangered status. You can see more on this snake here.
The Heaviest Snake in the World
Wow! The heaviest snake in the world is the green anaconda. They can reach up to 220 pounds and 16 feet in length. A native of South America, the green anaconda inhabits swamps, marshes, and streams. These snakes are nonvenomous. You can see more on this snake here.
Copperhead: Venomous Snake in North Carolina
Do you often see these? I sure do. Most North Carolinians know at least the name of the copperhead. Copperheads are typically between two and three feet long, with a fairly heavy body. North Carolina is home to the most common and widespread venomous snake, the copperhead. You can see more on this snake here.
Pigmy Rattlesnake: Venomous Snake in North Carolina
They’re kind of cute, aren’t they? Pigmy Rattlesnakes are also venomous snakes in North Carolina. In the United States, pigmy rattlesnakes are the smallest species of rattlesnake. Snakes that live in this region usually have dull gray bodies with a row of dark spots running down the center of their backs. In North Carolina, pigmy rattlers are found in pine Flatwoods and scrub oak habitats in the southeastern Coastal Plain and the Sandhills. They have been found at Crowder’s Mountain State Park in Gaston County. You can see more on this snake here.
Timber Rattlesnake: Venomous Snake in North Carolina
Rattlesnakes of this species are large and heavy-bodied, with dark bands or chevrons protruding from their bodies. They are most commonly found in mountains and coastal plains. One of the most impressive things about this snake is the fact that it can strike up to 1/3 to 1/2 of its body length. I am not a fan of this snake. You can see more on this snake here.
