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Kingsnake
Whit Gibbons handles a kingsnake.
Photo by Jonathan Sharpe
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Black racer
Photo by Whit Gibbons
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Black racer
Photo by Whit Gibbons
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Corn snake
Photo by Whit Gibbons
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Green snake
Photo by J.D. Wilson
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Rat snake
Photo by Whit Gibbons
Whit Gibbons is professor emeritus of ecology at the University of Georgia, retired senior ecologist at the Savannah River Ecology Lab and a research professor at the University of South Carolina-Aiken. Below, he shows us how to spot, enjoy and stay safe around some of S.C.'s most intriguing reptiles.
Kingsnakes
One of South Carolina’s most magnificent harmless snakes is the eastern kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula). Adults grow to lengths of 4–5 feet and are identified by a striking color pattern of bright yellow rings on a shiny black body. Kingsnakes are noted for their immunity to the bite of pit vipers. Their diet includes rodents, lizards and birds. They will also eat other snakes, including copperheads, cottonmouths and rattlesnakes, which they kill by constriction.
Eastern kingsnakes are found throughout the state in hardwood and pine forests, pasturelands, and around wetland areas where they prey on aquatic snakes. Kingsnakes are even known to burrow into a nest and eat turtle eggs.
Rat snakes
Rat snakes (Elaphe [Pantherophis] obsoleta) are found throughout the state. They are usually gray or dark-gray in color with large darker blotches on the back and sides. In coastal areas they are greenish or yellow in color with black stripes that run the length of the body.
Rat snakes are called chicken snakes in some areas because they will indeed eat as many chicken eggs and chicks as they can get their mouths on. If you pick up a wild rat snake, it will almost assuredly bite you and likely leave small puncture wounds that will hurt, but their bite is not venomous. Another downside of catching a rat snake is that they emit a foul-smelling odor.
Corn snakes
The colorful corn snake (Elaphe [Pantherophis] guttata), also known as the red rat snake, is a closely related species that has many of the same behaviors and occupies the same habitats as rat snakes. Rat snakes and corn snakes are powerful constrictors.
Black racers
One of the most commonly seen snakes in all regions of South Carolina, the black racer (Coluber constrictor) is a shiny, fast-moving snake with a white chin. Racers are noted for eating a diversity of smaller prey items, including smaller snakes, rodents, frogs, lizards and even small turtles. Their scientific name is misleading as they are not constrictors. Instead, they grab their prey and simply hold on until they swallow it.
Rough green snakes
Many of our native snakes can be easily confused with other species, including venomous ones that have harmless look-alikes. But nobody can mix up the rough green snake (Opheodrys aestivus) with another. These bright green beauties with yellow bellies and red tongues are found from the mountains to the coast.
Green snakes eat mostly small invertebrates such as spiders, insects, millipedes and land snails and will occasionally catch a small tree frog. They have superb camouflage as they move silently through shrubs, vines and small trees.
To learn more about any of these and other South Carolina snakes, visit here.
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How to be safe around snakes
Know when and where to look
You are most likely to encounter snakes when they are crossing roads, when they are moving through your backyard or through other habitats, during breeding season (spring or fall) when they are roaming in search of mates, when they are basking in the sun near habitat edges like bodies of water or forest lines, or when traveling in the fall prior to hibernation.
Watch your step and where you reach
Many snake species use camouflage to protect themselves from predators or to catch their prey. Accidentally stepping on or intentionally grabbing a snake can communicate to the animal that you are trying to harm it, resulting in a defensive response that appears aggressive.
Never place your hands, arms, feet or legs where you can’t see them when outdoors. Even reaching under the house for something blindly can cause you to disturb a hiding snake. While venomous snakes generally do not strike when approached or even get stepped on, they are highly likely to strike if grabbed or picked up.
Always wear closed shoes and long pants when walking through woods or places where you won’t have clear views of where you step.
Walk around logs instead of blindly stepping over them.
Use a flashlight so you can see the ground at night in areas where venomous snakes might be present.
Remain calm if you see one
If you encounter a snake, simply step back or let it pass. Most snake encounters are just observations of these animals moving from point A to point B. Remember, they are not interested in harassing you—they are just going about their business.
Do not try to remove a snake
If a snake is on your property, leave it alone. People generally observe snakes in their yard when reptiles are on the move, so chances are it won’t stick around. Don’t try to nudge a snake to move it on its way, or it may feel threatened and strike.
For more information, visit the website of the Savannah River Ecology Lab.
Source: Savannah River Ecology Lab
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Related story
Venomous snakes in S.C. - Ecologist Whit Gibbons explains how reptiles — even the poisonous ones — benefit the state’s environment.