North Carolina has small virety of venomous snakes which include the eastern coral snake, eastern diamondback rattle snake, canebrake rattle snake, pigmy rattle snake, copperhead and cottonmouth also known as water moccasin.
Eastern Coral Snake
The eastern coral snake is a member of the Elapidae family. Which the deadly cobras from India fall under as well. The coral snake lives sandy areas of southeastern North Carolina. This snake is very shy and rarly ever seen. They hunt at night and kill it's prey with a potent neurotoxin venom. Neurotoxin venom is the most toxic venom produced by any of the North Carolina's venomous snakes.
Neurotoxic venom
Neurotoxic venom is fast acting. This venom attackes the central nervous system. Which means the nerves that control breathing are paralysed causing respiratory failure. Effects of a neurological bite usuallu manifest themselves within minutes after being bitten. Caused by small molecular weight of the proteins being transported and absorbed rapidly by the body. The victim will experience progressive weakness causing death between 5-15 hours in sever envenomations if medical help is not recieved. But there is posibility of death within an hour of being bitten.
The other species of snakes that will be discussed are know as pit vipers. There are 5 pit vipers including 2 moccasin (the copperhead and cottonmouth) and 3 rattlesnakes. These snakes are reconized by their large triangular/diamond shaped head, a pit between the nostril and the eyes. The pupils are vertically elliptical like cat eyes. These rattlesnakes and moccasin's have 2 long hollow hinged fangs connected to small venom sacks. They have pits between their eyes and nostrils. These pits are "heat detectors" used for hunting. Meaning the snake can locat, aim and strike at warm-blooded pray. Usually being rodents. And can accurately follow rodents from a distance of 6 feet in pitch darkness.
Rattlesnakes are equipped for both day and night vision. And give live birth. Most pit vipors inject large amounts of venom into hunting bites. Yet hardly little or no venom with defensive bites. Roughly 25% of pit vipor bites in humans are non-venomous meaning dry bites. However an angered or provoked snake may not only load up but strike several times.
Copperhead snakes are vary venomous and highly dangerous to people and animals. The copperhead is most common snake bite in the US. They have a stocky body that will be either copper, orange or pinkish in color. Dark bands that cross the body alternating from darker to lighter color. Most young copperheads are lighter in color than that of an adult copperhead. And have a yellow tipped tail they flick, believed by some people to lure prey in for a strick. They camouflage in fallen leaves and other debris on the forest floor. The copperhead lives in rocky and wooded parts of hilly and mountainous areas. They are most likey to be found on former sawmils or farms in piles of rotting wood and sawdust. But sometimes seen in towns or cities.
The range of body length at birth is from 8 to 10 inches. And will grow to be 24 to 36 inches as an adult. Adult copperheads give birth to roughly 3 to 10 live young babies.
Most of the time a snake venomous or non venomous will retreate back to the bushes or shrubs unless hunting rodents. The Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake is the most dangerous snake we have in North America. Diamondback's have been captured as large as 8 feet long and weighing 15 pounds. The diamondback's fangs are also the biggest snake fangs found in North America. Reaching a wopping 3/4" and are capable or penetrating a shoe or even a boot. But no fear, the diamondback is relatively docile. Most incidents happen when someone steps on the snake by accident. And most likely recieve a dry bite.
Eastern Coral Snake
The eastern coral snake is a member of the Elapidae family. Which the deadly cobras from India fall under as well. The coral snake lives sandy areas of southeastern North Carolina. This snake is very shy and rarly ever seen. They hunt at night and kill it's prey with a potent neurotoxin venom. Neurotoxin venom is the most toxic venom produced by any of the North Carolina's venomous snakes.
Neurotoxic venom
Neurotoxic venom is fast acting. This venom attackes the central nervous system. Which means the nerves that control breathing are paralysed causing respiratory failure. Effects of a neurological bite usuallu manifest themselves within minutes after being bitten. Caused by small molecular weight of the proteins being transported and absorbed rapidly by the body. The victim will experience progressive weakness causing death between 5-15 hours in sever envenomations if medical help is not recieved. But there is posibility of death within an hour of being bitten.
The other species of snakes that will be discussed are know as pit vipers. There are 5 pit vipers including 2 moccasin (the copperhead and cottonmouth) and 3 rattlesnakes. These snakes are reconized by their large triangular/diamond shaped head, a pit between the nostril and the eyes. The pupils are vertically elliptical like cat eyes. These rattlesnakes and moccasin's have 2 long hollow hinged fangs connected to small venom sacks. They have pits between their eyes and nostrils. These pits are "heat detectors" used for hunting. Meaning the snake can locat, aim and strike at warm-blooded pray. Usually being rodents. And can accurately follow rodents from a distance of 6 feet in pitch darkness.
Rattlesnakes are equipped for both day and night vision. And give live birth. Most pit vipors inject large amounts of venom into hunting bites. Yet hardly little or no venom with defensive bites. Roughly 25% of pit vipor bites in humans are non-venomous meaning dry bites. However an angered or provoked snake may not only load up but strike several times.
Copperhead snakes are vary venomous and highly dangerous to people and animals. The copperhead is most common snake bite in the US. They have a stocky body that will be either copper, orange or pinkish in color. Dark bands that cross the body alternating from darker to lighter color. Most young copperheads are lighter in color than that of an adult copperhead. And have a yellow tipped tail they flick, believed by some people to lure prey in for a strick. They camouflage in fallen leaves and other debris on the forest floor. The copperhead lives in rocky and wooded parts of hilly and mountainous areas. They are most likey to be found on former sawmils or farms in piles of rotting wood and sawdust. But sometimes seen in towns or cities.
The range of body length at birth is from 8 to 10 inches. And will grow to be 24 to 36 inches as an adult. Adult copperheads give birth to roughly 3 to 10 live young babies.
Most of the time a snake venomous or non venomous will retreate back to the bushes or shrubs unless hunting rodents. The Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake is the most dangerous snake we have in North America. Diamondback's have been captured as large as 8 feet long and weighing 15 pounds. The diamondback's fangs are also the biggest snake fangs found in North America. Reaching a wopping 3/4" and are capable or penetrating a shoe or even a boot. But no fear, the diamondback is relatively docile. Most incidents happen when someone steps on the snake by accident. And most likely recieve a dry bite.