About Black & Red Snakes

Snakes colored black and red are common in the southern and eastern areas of the United States. The most common type is the coral snake, which can have a deadly bite. Other snakes look similar but are harmless. Knowing how to tell a harmless snake from a dangerous one can be important, especially if you are going camping or hiking. The colors of snakes are important clues to knowing which snakes are safe and which can be deadly.

Type

Black and red snakes in America vary in species according to location. Knowing which snakes are poisonous is easier when you know which colors to associate with each species of snake. The most poisonous snake in America, the coral snake, is black and red with yellow bands. There are also very similar-looking snakes that are not poisonous. Some black snakes can be a huge help to farmers as they kill off mice and other common pests. Black snakes are not poisonous but can be mistaken for water moccasins, a poisonous water snake of North America.

Identification

To identify a potentially poisonous black-and-red snake, carefully look at the pattern of rings. A poisonous coral snake will have red and yellow bands that touch, while a nonpoisonous snake will have red and black bands touching. The nonpoisonous snake is commonly called a milk snake.
Common black snakes can be identified by their deep and shiny black color. Water moccasins can be almost black, but will carry some gray. Also, poisonous snakes in America have a triangular or flat head, with a small indention in the center of their head. Poisonous snakes also have a "cat's eye" pupil, which looks like a small slit in the eye.

Type

The most common types of black-and-red-colored snakes in America are the coral and milk snakes. Black snakes and water moccasins are predominantly black, while some tan snakes appear to be red.
The red-bellied snake is common in the eastern areas of the United States, and is one of the smallest of the North American snakes. The red-bellied snake is also one of the black-and-red snakes that is nonpoisonous. The snake can have small black stripes, or can appear to be black on top and red underneath.

Misconceptions

A snake is an important part of the ecosystem as it reduces the number of pests. Without snakes, some animal populations would grow into an unreasonable number and spread disease and illness among human and animal populations.
While it may seem like common sense to kill black-and-red snakes, it is actually detrimental to the ecosystem. This is especially true if you kill common black snakes and milk snakes. The only time you need to kill a snake is when bitten. You need to bring the dead snake with you to the hospital so that a positive identification can be made and treatment administered.
You should also know that snake bites are no longer treated by cutting the bite open and sucking the venom out. Cutting the tissue can cause more damage than good and complicate recovery.

Risk Factors

Some snakes are poisonous, and can be dangerous if you are bitten. If you see a black-and-red snake in your path, walk 6 to 12 feet away from the snake to avoid being bitten. Coral snakes are particularly dangerous, and can cause serious, even life-threatening, symptoms within just a few minutes.
If you are bitten by a black-and-red colored snake, call 911 or go to the nearest treatment center immediately. You can apply a loose tourniquet or apply suction without cutting if you are in an extremely isolated area. You will need to seek treatment within one to two hours. If you wait too long for treatment to begin, there is a greater chance of complications and treatment is more difficult.