Rockport Texas - The History, Legends & Lore 1st Printing | Page 69

CORAL SNAKE (sp. Micrurus tener) The Texas Coral, as it is often called, hunts at night and has a very shy character. They don’t really want any trouble, but if a person is bit by one, there’s no time to waste: apply a tourniquet to the bitten limb and call 911 immediately. Its venom affects the Central Nervous System, much like Cobra venom. LORE: There’s an old saying about distinguishing the difference between the deadly Coral, and the relatively harmless King Snake: “Red & Yellow kills a fellow. Red & Black, friend of Jack.” KING SNAKE (sp. Lampropeltis elapsoides) Commonly known as the Scarlet King Snake, they are considered common throught the Eastern & Southeastern portions of the U.S. Their yellow bands are actually white until they become adults. They are not poisonous. 68