Red snake with black rings - what kind is it?

[Paula]

Hmmmmm.... Someone I know almost stepped on a 5 foot long red snake with black rings around it. Anyone know what kind it is and whether it's dangerous?

 

[Minnie]

Did it look like this one?



If so not poisonous. This is a Florida Scarlet Snake.

However if yellow was involved it could be a Coral snake which is poisonous.

• [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]'If red touches yellow, it can kill a fellow' (coral snake)[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]'If red touches black, it is a friend of Jack' (scarlet kingsnake or scarlet snake) [/FONT]

 

[Mermaid]

Hmmmmm.... Someone I know almost stepped on a 5 foot long red snake with black rings around it. Anyone know what kind it is and whether it's dangerous?

Aw c'mon Paula. You can't ask a question like that without telling us the story that went with it. I bet it's a humdinger.

 

[Lynnie]

Hmmmmm.... Someone I know almost stepped on a 5 foot long red snake with black rings around it. Anyone know what kind it is and whether it's dangerous?

On the beach?

 

[Walton Outdoors]

snake phrase

I remember as:
"Red on black, friend to Jack. Red on yellow, kill a fellow."
Red on Yellow is a Coral Snake... poisonous!

 

[pgurney]

I think it's pretty unusual for coral snakes to get that big. It was probably harmless.

 

[Paula]

OK, so the story is that one of our guests saw the snake at the Cottages at Camp Creek figured I'd follow up to find out if it was harmless or not! We're going there in August and I wanted to know if I should bring thigh high boots.

 

[DD]

OK, so the story is that one of our guests saw the snake at the Cottages at Camp Creek figured I'd follow up to find out if it was harmless or not! We're going there in August and I wanted to know if I should bring thigh high boots.

The second ones are definitely you, Paula.

 

[Paula]

Did it look like this one?



If so not poisonous. This is a Florida Scarlet Snake.

However if yellow was involved it could be a Coral snake which is poisonous.

• [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]'If red touches yellow, it can kill a fellow' (coral snake)[/FONT]
  [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]'If red touches black, it is a friend of Jack' (scarlet kingsnake or scarlet snake) [/FONT]

Thanks, Minnie. Very helpful.

 

[Gidget]

The first thing that pops into my mind is the mud snake.

Where were you when it happened?

Don't worry about it being poisonous if it was 5 ft long with those colors. That doesn't mean it won't bite and hurt, but it wouldn't be deadly.

I'm a huge snake lover!

G