Venomous Snakes in South Carolina

There are 38 species of snake in South Carolina, but only 6 are venomous. The vast majority of snakes you will see in South Carolina are non-venomous. In fact, many species of non-venomous snakes eat venomous ones! The snakes to worry about are the water moccasin (also called the cottonmouth), the rattlesnake, and the copperhead. Statistically speaking, most people get bit trying to kill them with an object like a golf club or bat. The best thing you can do it just leave it alone and let it go on its way. A venomous snake does not want to bite you; it uses its venom to hunt for prey. But it will bite if it feels threatened and has no other choice.

Click here for a brochure about venomous snakes in South Carolina.

Is the only good snake a dead snake? Click here to find out.....

The below video is a presentation on all six of the poisonous snakes native to South Carolina by DNR herpetologist Steve Bennett. Those include: the rare Eastern Coral Snake, the Cottonmouth Moccasin, the Carolina Pigmy Rattlesnake, the Timber Rattler, Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake and the Copperhead.

The below video is in the Microsoft Windows Media Player Format (mpg).

Click on the Water Moccasin (cottonmouth) to start video. The video is 8:30 long and may take several moments to download.

             Snake Video - wmv Format                        Snake Video - mP4 Format