Learn how to identify all the venomous snakes in SC and what to do if bitten

Alligators can be found in the Lowcountry’s lakes, ponds and rivers. But it’s not the only reptile here.

The Lowcountry is home to 38 snake species, and only six of them are venomous. Snakes aren’t pests; they’re an important part of South Carolina’s environment. Snakes keep rodent and pest populations under control, according to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.

But they can bite people. Bites can cause irreparable harm if not treated properly, and snakes are most active in summer. Here’s what you need to know about the Lowcountry’s snakes:

How to stay safe around snakes

Unlike alligators, most snakes like to hide themselves using their natural camouflage and are hard to spot. Venomous snakes are the least encountered snakes in the Lowcountry.

The best way to handle a snake encounter is to step back and remain calm. Snakes only become aggressive if you provoke them, such as by grabbing or stepping on them. To avoid touching and provoking a snake, always look where you reach or step.

Wear closed-toe shoes and long pants when you walk through brush or on a trail in the woods. They will likely protect you from a bite if you step on a snake. Stay clear of logs as snakes hunt around them and you may disturb one.

If you find a snake on your property, don’t try to remove it. Most snake encounters in your yard occur when it’s traveling through it. The snake will leave on its own.

You should carefully avoid venomous snakes if you encounter them. Here’s how to identify them:

Copperhead

• Copperhead snakes have pink to coppery-tan scales, with hourglass shaped bands. The head is usually a solid copper color.

Coral Snake

• Coral snakes have repeating bands of yellow, black, yellow, and red, in that order. Their nose is always black.

Cottonmouth

• The Cottonmouth snake can vary in color from dark brown and black to olive and yellow-tan. They have diagonal dark bands at irregular spots along the body. The Cottonmouth doesn’t run away when encountered. Instead, it curls tightly with its head at the center.

Pigmy Rattlesnake

• They are small rattlesnakes with gray to light gray or pink bodies. It has dark blotches along its body and often a faint red line down the top of its body.

Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake

• The Eastern Diamondback is the largest venomous snake in the Lowcountry, and it’s easily identifiable by its dark, diamond-shaped marks along the length of its body. The diamonds are outlined in a pale yellow.

Canebrake Rattlesnake

• The Canebrake is a light tan, but can be pink or orange. It has dark-brown bands and usually a reddish-brown line down the top of its body.

What to do if you’re bitten

Snake bites are rare but can happen. A woman was bitten three times by a Copperhead snake on Hilton Head Island in 2021 and survived. Around 7,000 snake bites occur in the U.S. each year, but in half of cases no venom is injected. Only five to six Americans die each year from snakebites.

Here’s what to do if you are bitten by a venomous snake:

• Safely observe the snake and determine the species. If you don’t know the species, remember as many details as possible about the snake’s appearance, or take a picture if you can.
• Wash the bite area and cover it with a clean dressing.
• Do not eat or drink anything, including medicine.
• Stay still and calm. Lay or sit down.
• Get to a hospital as soon as possible, but don’t drive yourself. Hospitals can properly treat the bite and administer anti-venom if necessary.