KENTUCKY, USA — While the deadly coral snake does not exist in Kentucky, there are two snake species that look incredibly similar you may find slithering around the Bluegrass State.
Coral Snake
The coral snake (Micrurus fulvius), which has red, black, and yellow rings and a venomous bite that could kill a human, is found in the United States, Asia and South America.
The three main species of coral snake in the U.S. are the eastern coral snake, the Texas coral snake and the Sonoran coral snake.
Eastern coral snakes are found throughout the southern United States, from North Carolina to Florida to Louisiana; Texas coral snakes mainly reside in Texas, Louisiana and southern Arkansas. Sonoran coral snakes live in Arizona and New Mexico.
Coral snakes should not be handled or touched, as they have dangerously potent venom, comprised mainly of neurotoxins. A bite from a coral snake could lead to paralysis and respiratory or cardiac failure in humans, according to a North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission article.
There are two other non-venomous snakes that are often confused with coral snakes, and both species are found in Kentucky.
Scarlet Kingsnake
The scarlet kingsnake (Lampropeltis triangulum elapsoides) also has red, black and yellow bands that encircle the body, similar to the deadly coral snake.
Scarlet kingsnakes are found in the southeastern region of the United States in states like North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and Florida.
Unlike the highly venomous coral snake, the kingsnake's snout is red and the yellow bands are always separated from the red bands by black, according to a University of Kentucky article.
While the coral snake doesn't exist in Kentucky, the scarlet kingsnake are primarily confined to forested areas in extreme southern, eastern and western Kentucky, however they are still uncommon in the Bluegrass State.
Scarlet Snake
The scarlet snake (Cemophora coccinea) has the same colors as the others, but there are a few key differences.
Scarlet snakes are found in the southeastern United States, from New Jersey down to Florida, and as far west as Oklahoma. They're most likely seen living in coastal plans and sandhills.
Unlike the coral snake, the scarlet snake has a red, pointed snout, red blotches on the back that are separated by black. And unlike both snake species, the scarlet snake has a plain white belly, according to the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources.
There is a mnemonic phrase along the lines of “red touch black, venom lack; red touch yellow, kill a fellow." However, because some people misremember the rhyme, there is often confusion as to which species is harmless and which one could hurt you.
The best advice is to leave alone any snake that is found, especially ones that are not easily identified.
For more information on venomous and non-venomous snakes in Kentucky, click here.
