I live in Florida. Almost stepped on a coral snake. I hear that their venom is super deadly. Is this true?

Coral Snakes are beautiful, highly venomous, medium-sized (20 to 35 inches) snakes. Their patterning and coloration consists of bands of dark-red, yellow, and black.

In South Carolina there are 2 non-venomous snake species which are considered mimics of the Coral Snake. These are the Scarlet Snake and the Scarlet King Snake. Both of these non-venomous are more brightly colored than the Coral Snake. However, there are definitive ways to tell these mimics from the real thing. The Coral Snake has a black snout, while the mimics each have red snouts. (A black snout is not a universal mark of the Coral Snake. Other milk snake mimics, not native to SC but found in parts of the US more to the west have dark or black snouts.) The order of the colors in the Coral Snake is such that each red band is bounded by yellow bands. On the mimics, the red bands are bounded by black bands. There are vary rhymes used to help remember this color sequencing. The one that I use goes as follows: "Red and yellow, kill a fellow; red and black, friend of Jack." Thus, YELLOW-RED-YELLOW = Coral Snake; BLACK-RED-BLACK = mimic snake. There are a number of other differences such as width of bands and belly patterning and colors. Upon becoming familar with each of these snakes, one will see that each is really very distinct from the other.

Coral Snakes are considered to be secretive, burrowing snakes. Lizards and small snakes are their principal food. They are generally considered rare in South Carolina. I have never found a live specimen. However, the Park Manager at the Aiken County State Park captured 2 specimens within just a couple weeks in the early fall of 1999. Both of these specimens were crossing the paved road. I had the opportunity to photograph the second specimen before it was released in a remote park location. Its pictures are the first collage listed in the table above.

Coral Snakes are usually not aggressive but will bite if held or otherwise restrained. Their small heads make holding one behind the head as is often done with pit vipers very difficult to do so safely. When threatened Coral Snakes exhibit interesting behaviors. Like most snakes it will flatten its body in order to look larger. More interestingly, they will curl their tails to form an enlargement that may confuse an attacker as to which end is the head. They will often hold the curled tail above the ground to further the illusion. The relatively short length of their tails seems to enhance this technique. Additionally, they may hide their heads under their bodies or even burrow them into the sand. Another technique they will use is to move in sideways jerks. This makes trying to pin the head especially difficult.

Coral Snakes are egg-layers. There is some indication in the literature that Coral Snakes may breed in Fall as well as Spring. Eggs are laid in early to mid Summer and hatch in late Summer/early Fall.

I urge all amateur herpers to refrain from hands-on handling of Coral Snakes. And, if you are not well-experienced with venomous snakes, you probably should not attempt to handle one even with a pickup stick. (Hooks are not very useful since they are not inclined to staying quietly looped over the hook.) Because Coral Snakes have such highly toxic venom, if you are in doubt as whether a snake is a mimic, treat it as if it were the real thing.

If you wanted a pet, you could probably get a King Snake (otherwise known as a Milk Snake). As far as I know, they're not deadly at all, and they look almost EXACTLY like a coral snake does. Notice the color pattern on the coral snake? Red-Yellow-Black-Red... On a King Snake, it's Red-Black... To an inexperienced eye, they're exactly the same.

barely entering into the western edge of the desert, that belongs to an entirely different group--in fact, to the family that includes the cobras! A cobra in our desert? Well, not exactly--the serpent under consideration is the small, secretive Western Coral Snake, which manages to avoid most of the more threatening characteristics of cobras. Nonetheless, like all other family members, it's possessed of highly toxic venom. Bands of red, yellow, and black

yes they are very poisonous but there may be a slight chance that it was a king snake not a coral one there is a kingsnkae that immitates a caoral snakes patern almost exactly alike except for the head if the head is black ur ok is it was yellow or red ur in trouble. i sugest to wal slowly away and then haul it in the oppisite direction. =) this works well especialy when its reared up ready to bite. well hope it wasn't a coral snake and i hope it was a king snake cause they are non vemonous so good luck and watch ur step. =) yes they are very beautiful as well and i would love to of seen one and maybe even catch one!

They are potetialy sp? deadly, and they sholdnt be taken lightly or handled. THEY WILL BITE! They are a pretty snake but not worth the risk. You should go out and catch a scarlet kingsnake they are just as pretty or more IMO or a mud snake they are pretty cool too. Anyway id say they are a bad pet because you cant handle them, they are shy remaining hidden most of the time, and dangerous if it gets loose in the house.

Coral snake venom IS dangerous, but coral snakes themselves are not very dangerous- compared to lightning, bee stings, dog bites, bathroom injuries, traffic fatalities, etc.

Coral snakes are not very aggressive, and rarely bite. 99 bites were reported in 2004- but probably fewer than 20 of them were real. (Most of them occurred outside of coral snake territory, and the rest did not show symptoms of envenomation).

Of those bitten, no one has died since anti-venom was developed. Before then, probably 10% of the bite victims died.

Coral snakes have a fast-acting neurotoxin, which attacks the nerves and brain, as opposed to a rattlesnake's cytotoxin, which attacks blood vessels and flesh.

They're not really as dangerous as rattlesnakes---provided you know where they are---because their small mouths can only fit around a finger or toe. And you can always cut those off.

While coral snakes are mostly very timid, their bite will cause you serious problems & should be left alone & not kept as pets. They are very beautiful, but not good pets as they spend most of their time hidden & are very dangerous.

Not all coral snakes are venomous. But my understanding is that coral snakes generally are pretty anti-social & not the friendliest of pets.

to my understanding they are the most poisonous snake in north america

GOD BLESS