Sssssssnakes!
Story and photographs by Jim Jordan,
Town of Kiawah Island Biologist
S
nakes are likely the most
misunderstood animals on Kiawah
Island. They are feared, reviled,
and persecuted. Just the other day,
I received a report of a small, non-venomous
snake killed crossing the road by a vehicle that
intentionally swerved to hit it. I also often hear
the phrase, “the only good snake is a dead snake.”
In reality, snakes serve a vital role in the Kiawah
ecosystem and rarely cause conflicts with people.
Hopefully, this article will help to answer many of
the common questions about snakes and dispel
some of the myths surrounding them.
First, let’s talk about the three most common
snakes on the Island, all of which are non-
venomous. The most common is the yellow rat
snake. These are light brown with four distinct
dark stripes running the length of the snake. As
their name suggests, they feed primarily on rats
and mice. They are very skillful climbers and can
often be seen climbing trees in search of prey.
The black racer is another common sight in
Kiawah’s wooded areas. They are jet-black with a
white underbelly and chin. Their name suggests
great speed and agility, both of which they possess
in their slender, whip-like bodies. Racers feed on
large insects and frogs as well as rats and mice.
Due to their speed, the most common sighting
of a black racer will be of its tail as it disappears
into a woodlot.
Less common, though very striking in
appearance, is the corn snake. Corn snakes
are orange in color with large black-edged red,
brown, or dark-gray blotches down the back. The
name “corn” snake is most likely derived from
the squarish black marks on their bellies that
resemble the checkered patterns of kernels on
Indian corn. Corn snakes are often killed because
of their resemblance to the venomous copperhead.
These snakes can be distinguished quite easily by
looking at their head and neck. A corn snake’s
head is narrow and the same width as its body,
while a copperhead has a slender neck and a large,
triangular head.
Black racer.
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Naturally Kiawah