Eastern coralsnake

Coral snakes are secretive, spending most of their time under leaves, logs and loose soil. When threatened they may hide the head and wave the curled tail. They eat other snakes, which they swallow whole.

Coral snakes are a check on populations of small snakes and lizards. Bites are rare, and almost always happen when someone picks one up.

Eggs — Usually 3 to 12, laid in early summer
Nest — Under logs or in soil
Incubation — About 60 to 90 days
Hatchlings — Brightly banded, venomous from hatching
Maturity — In about two years
Lifespan — Several years or more

• Never pick up a brightly banded snake.
• If someone is bitten, call 911 and get to a hospital at once, even if there is little pain; coral snake venom acts on the nerves, and symptoms can be delayed. Do not cut, suck, ice or tie off the bite.

• Coral snakes cannot bite people because their mouths are too small. They can, and bites need hospital care.
• The colour rhyme works everywhere. "Red touches yellow" identifies coral snakes in the Southeast, but it is not reliable for coral snakes outside the United States.

• Scarlet kingsnake
• Scarletsnake