Rattlesnakes In North Carolina And My Close Encounters With Them

I know what some of you may be thinking. But are there rattlesnakes in North Carolina? Oh yes. And I have encountered them more than once. As if we don't have enough to worry about with the copperheads. Here's what we know about rattlesnakes in North Carolina.

According to the Charlotte Observer, North Carolina Wildlife Conservation Biologist Bret Ladrie says "They aren't seen very much in the Piedmont region but they are in Charlotte and the surrounding counties". He goes on to say you can find them in wooded areas. He confirms you may encounter them on trails, in yards, in the road or underneath rocks.

I think just about everyone knows what a rattlesnake looks like. In case you don't one tale tail sign is, there will almost always be a rattle. And they will let you know when you are close with that rattle. But I can tell you personally they can alert you to their location in more than one way. This is the 6' rattlesnake that was within just a few inches of us.

There are indeed rattlesnakes in North Carolina and I have encountered them on three occasions. All three times it was while riding my horse at Kings Mountain State Park. Of course the park is heavily wooded where we ride. On two of these occasions the snake did indeed use the rattle to alert us they were near. And they weren't within striking distance. Still, we saw them. And respected their space and went along our way.

On one occasion, my friends Jeff, Rosie and I were riding when Jeff and I heard something that sounded like air being let out of a tire. He and I looked at each other as if to say "what was that!". About that time Rosie said, rattlesnake! And that joker WAS within striking distance but did not want to. He went about his way and so did we.

To learn more about rattlesnakes in North Carolina get details here from our source, the Charlotte Observer. And you have got to check out the video of my close encounter with rattlesnakes in North Carolina right here.

I don't like snakes but we have a lot of them in North Carolina. I hike a lot and I love being in the great outdoors. However, snakes give me so much anxiety. I absolutely despise them. The most unpleasant part of hiking in 2020 was probably the snakes. My thought was that since we were all stuck in quarantine the snakes would breed in peace and now there are more of them than ever.

There are more than 3,000 species of snake on the planet, with 600 of these being venomous. Living in North Carolina, we must know all there is to know about snakes. It is especially relevant if you plan on camping, hiking, or even heading to a local park. The reason being is that North Carolina is home to six venomous snakes. These snakes are featured on our snake list below.

Every year I see probably about ten of these lovely creatures. They make me jump out of my skin. This venomous snake is also called Water Moccasin. This is the most common venomous snake out of the six. It is found literally everywhere throughout North Carolina. The bites for these bad boys are he bites are pretty painful, but deaths from copperhead bites are extremely rare. You can see more on this snake here.

This is a worthwhile one if you like snakes. The average length of a reticulated python is 20 feet. That's the length of two basketball hoops! These snakes are found in southeast Asia. The habitat preferences of these animals appear to depend on their location, but they enjoy rainforests, woodlands, and grasslands. You can see more on this snake here.

Though I love the colors, I wouldn't get close to them! The Eastern Coral Snake is often referred to as the candy stick snake. It is normally the most misidentified snake found in North Carolina. In the southern Coastal Plain from North Carolina to Louisiana, including Florida, the eastern coral snake is scattered. Throughout their range, they can be found grazing in areas of scrub oak sandhills and pine Flatwoods that flood seasonally. You can’t legally kill the Eastern Coral Snake due to their endangered status. You can see more on this snake here.

Just seeing photos of this snake gives me nightmares. Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake is the largest and perhaps the most dangerous species of rattlesnake in the world. The backs of these heavy-bodied pitvipers are covered with black diamond patterns outlined in dark diamonds. In North Carolina, diamondbacks are usually found in sandy pine Flatwoods in the southeastern Coastal Plain. You can’t legally kill the Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake due to their endangered status. You can see more on this snake here.

Wow! The heaviest snake in the world is the green anaconda. They can reach up to 220 pounds and 16 feet in length. A native of South America, the green anaconda inhabits swamps, marshes, and streams. These snakes are nonvenomous. You can see more on this snake here.

Do you often see these? I sure do. Most North Carolinians know at least the name of the copperhead. Copperheads are typically between two and three feet long, with a fairly heavy body. North Carolina is home to the most common and widespread venomous snake, the copperhead. You can see more on this snake here.

They're kind of cute, aren't they? Pigmy Rattlesnakes are also venomous snakes in North Carolina. In the United States, pigmy rattlesnakes are the smallest species of rattlesnake. Snakes that live in this region usually have dull gray bodies with a row of dark spots running down the center of their backs. In North Carolina, pigmy rattlers are found in pine Flatwoods and scrub oak habitats in the southeastern Coastal Plain and the Sandhills. They have been found at Crowder’s Mountain State Park in Gaston County. You can see more on this snake here.

Rattlesnakes of this species are large and heavy-bodied, with dark bands or chevrons protruding from their bodies. They are most commonly found in mountains and coastal plains. One of the most impressive things about this snake is the fact that it can strike up to 1/3 to 1/2 of its body length. I am not a fan of this snake. You can see more on this snake here.

If you are bitten by a snake, follow these directions given by the Carolinas Poison Center:

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