Eastern Coral Snake

Breeding:
Reportedly lays 3-12 eggs in June; young hatch in September, at 7-9”.

Habitat:
Moist, densely vegetated hammocks near ponds or streams in hardwood forests; pine flatwoods; rocky hillsides and canyons.

Range:
Se. North Carolina to s. Florida and Key Largo, west to s. Texas and México.

Subspecies:
Eastern, black dotting in red rings fuses into pair of spots on back into a single spot on
belly; se. North Carolina to s. Florida, west to Mississippi River.
Texas, random black spots in red rings; s. Arkansas, w. Louisiana. S. Texas into ne.
México.

Do not confuse this venous species with its harmless mimics- the Scarlet Snake and Scarlet Kingsnake. Usually seen under rotting logs o leave or moving on surface in early morning or late afternoon. Feeds on small snakes or lizards.