To ask a question about a snake, don't reply to this post, go to the forum home page and start a new post. Your question will get a lot more exposure. Please give us an idea of where you live, as reptiles can often be identified only by locality!

Please do not place messages about killing a snake, and asking what kind it is you have killed! That is like going onto a message board about dogs and telling about torturing one to death, and asking what kind of breed it was. You will likely get "flamed", and likely by the forum owner, depending on his mood that day.

A note about head shape in snakes: Head shape is a totally useless character for identifying a snake, and has nothing to do with whether the serpent is or is not venomous (poisonous). Many harmless snakes, especially when young, have rather large heads. Please describe color, pattern, markings, and habitat where the snake was found. The shape of the head will not help us in any way. Thank you.

Re: Questions about Snakes in North Carolina

Posted by Wayne on April 5, 2005, 12:25 am, in reply to "Questions about Snakes in North Carolina"
206.152.117.81

My parents lived in Cary, North Carolina (suburb of Raleigh) for 10 years and never saw a venomous snake. On the Piedmont away from the mountains and coasts, the only venomous snake you are likely to ever encounter is the copperhead (the only other possibility are Timber Rattlesnakes, but they are extremely rare on the Piedmont) Copperheads are the least venomous of our venomous snakes and their bite is very unlikely to kill a dog and typically requires no antivenin in a human, but their bite is still very painful to a human or dog. Copperheads usually require considerable provocation to bite, but unfortunately some dogs seem to master in provocation and so they're risk is higher than that of sober humans (drunk male humans are the primary human bite victims, though a gardener on rare occasions will get bit if he/she touches one or puts their hand right next to one). Copperheads are easily identified by their hershey kiss shaped pattern (see link below). There are many, many nonvenomous species and only one to two venomous species in your area so knowing the hershey kisses will let you know what to look for. Link to copperhead pictures below. --Previous Message-- : Hi, : : I have recently moved to Four Oaks, NC : (20 miles East of Raleigh) from NJ and : live in the country surrounded by 3 : acres of woods with a small creek : (that's country for this city girl). : First, I want to impress, I think : snakes are beautiful and would never : intentionally harm them HOWEVER that : said, I would like to be educated about : them because I am petrified for myself : and five (yes five) dogs. I couldn't : tell the difference between a harmless : snake or a poisonous one and I don't : want to hurt any - I know that I am : living on their turf (this used to be a : farm field and woods, now it is : development). Please help. Any : information you could provide or books : you could point me to would be greatly : appreciated. Also, what should I do if : I encounter a "poisonous" : snake (besides scream, cry and run?) : : Thank you very, very much. :

Link: copperheads

---

Message Thread: Questions about Snakes in North Carolina - Felice Lai April 4, 2005, 10:01 pm Re: Questions about Snakes in North Carolina - Wayne April 5, 2005, 12:25 am Re: Questions about Snakes in North Carolina - Macon July 27, 2008, 7:45 am « Back to thread

---

Reply

The Appalachian Naturalist