How Many Venomous Snakes are Found
in North Carolina?
28 January 1998
Of the 37 known species of snakes in North Carolina, six
are poisonous -- the copperhead, cottonmouth (or water moccasin),
eastern diamondback rattlesnake, timber (or canebrake) rattlesnake,
pigmy rattlesnake, and eastern coral snake.
Five of the venomous snakes are known as pit vipers. "Pit" describes
the heat-sensitive organ, located between the eyes and nostrils,
that enables the snake to locate, aim, and strike at warm-blooded
prey. The five North Carolina vipers include the two moccasins
(the copperhead and cottonmouth) and the three rattlesnakes.
The pit vipers are recognizable by their large, triangular
or diamond shaped head and vertically elliptical pupils.
North Carolina's other venomous snake, the eastern coral snake, is a member
of the Elapidae family, which includes the deadly
cobras. These beautiful snakes, distinguished by bright
red, yellow and black rings around the body, are the most
toxic of North Carolina's poisonous snakes. Coral snakes
occur in the southeastern region of the state, but are rare.
The copperhead, a moderately large, stout-bodied snake with a pattern of
hourglass-shaped crossbars on its body, is responsible for
the majority of snake bites in North Carolina. It is, however,
not an aggressive snake and does not bite unless disturbed
or provoked. Copperheads can be found in a variety of habitats
across the state including coastal flatwoods, pocosins (densely
vegetated areas), and wooded slopes up to 3,000 feet elevation.
The cottonmouth, so named because of the white lining on the inside of
their mouth, lives in and near water bodies in North Carolina.
This highly poisonous snake is the only poisonous water
snake in the United States. They are among the most abundant
snakes in the coastal plain.
North Carolina's three rattlesnakes can be easily recognized by the distinctive
rattle at the end of their tail. When threatened, rattlers
shake their tail at about 100 times per second, resulting
in a buzzing noise. Surprisingly, the snakes do not hear
their own warning signal because they are unable to detect
airborne sounds. When disturbed, the snake will rattle but
they have been known to bite first.
The eastern diamondback rattlesnake is the largest snake in the United
States; adults average five feet in length. Found in the
southeastern corner of the state, the diamondback prefers
brushy fields bordered by forests, pine flatwoods, and drier
pocosins. Because of its aggressive nature, it is considered
the most dangerous snake in the Southeast; it is, however,
rare in North Carolina.
The large, heavy-bodied timber (or canebrake) rattlesnake can be found
throughout most of the state in habitats ranging from rocky
hillsides to river valleys. The timber rattlers of the piedmont
and coastal plain are usually larger and lighter in color
than those inhabiting mountain areas.
The pigmy rattlesnake is the smallest and least dangerous of North Carolina's
poisonous snakes. Rarely exceeding two feet in length, this
small, slender snake occurs in the southern and eastern
regions of the state. They can frequently be found around
cypress ponds or other bodies of water.
North Carolina holds the unfortunate title of the state with the highest incidence of
poisonous snake bites. Fatal snake bites in North Carolina, however, are rare (with proper
medical treatment). In fact, there is a greater chance of death from lightning strike or
an allergic reaction to a bee sting than from a snake bite.