South Carolina Snakes In Winter And Why We Don’t See Them As Much

I'll admit right up front that I am deathly afraid of snakes.  But, I do find them interesting from afar.  So, I enjoyed reading an article I saw recently about South Carolina snakes in winter and their behaviors.  I always tell people I don't know much about "outside things."  And, that includes snakes.  I just know I don't enjoy accidentally stumbling upon them as I did riding a horse one time!

Therefore, I read up on the activity of  South Carolina snakes in winter.  The Island Packet shared information for curious readers about the snake habits since it seems we don't see them as much in colder months as we do in summer.  Everyone might assume they hibernate like other animals.  But, apparently, that's not the case.

And, although snakes don't go through the traditional "hibernation" which causes other animals to go into deep sleep with no movement, they do something else.   The cold-blooded snakes must also deal with the chilly weather.  Since cold-blooded animals' body temps assume the same as the temps in their surroundings, they have to find a place to stay comfortable.  And, that's when South Carolina snakes enter a state called "brumation."  The article refers to it as "a type of hibernation for cold-blooded animals."  I thought "brumate"  was that hard koozie that slips over your beer can.

So, that's why they aren't in plain sight during those months.  Snakes move to underground spots or crevices in rocks and the like.  However, if they can't find a remote spot, humans may find spot them in basements, garages or even car engines.  I have to say the more I read, the worse the news got concerning all the hiding spaces the snakes might be.  It's not their fault.  But, I really don't want to go to my garage for the Christmas decorations and find a visitor!  That happened to us once.  And, being the tough folks we are, we panicked.

Now, this is all helpful information even if it is a bit unnerving.  Keep your eyes peeled.  And, find out more about snakes and brumation in the full article.

I don't like snakes but we have a lot of them in North Carolina. I hike a lot and I love being in the great outdoors. However, snakes give me so much anxiety. I absolutely despise them. The most unpleasant part of hiking in 2020 was probably the snakes. My thought was that since we were all stuck in quarantine the snakes would breed in peace and now there are more of them than ever.

There are more than 3,000 species of snake on the planet, with 600 of these being venomous. Living in North Carolina, we must know all there is to know about snakes. It is especially relevant if you plan on camping, hiking, or even heading to a local park. The reason being is that North Carolina is home to six venomous snakes. These snakes are featured on our snake list below.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

If you are bitten by a snake, follow these directions given by the Carolinas Poison Center: