We were walking back from the beach and I very nearly stepped on this guy.
I never even saw him until someone told me to watch out.
Are there snakes on Hilton Head Island?
Yes. Yes, there are certainly snakes on Hilton Head. We’ve never seen any before and we’ve come to the island for years, but they are there.
Copperhead
Photo by Thomas Fatora
Water Moccasin
Photo by Pattavina Pete, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Rattlesnake
Photo by Steve Riggins
Hilton Head has a lot of non-venomous snakes, but copperheads, water moccasins, and rattlesnakes also live on the island. (And on the shore.)
Just because a snake isn’t venomous, doesn’t mean it’s not dangerous. They still have very sharp teeth and can bite. Our dog was bitten by a non-venomous snake. We found out when the bite got horribly infected. Snakes have a lot of bacteria in their mouth.
Copperhead snake on the path
What to do if you see a snake
So, what do you do if you see a snake? Well if someone is about to step on it, you should raise your voice for sure. The conversational tone with which this snake was pointed out to me didn’t do much to stop me till I really nearly stepped on him.
This copperhead saw us and slithered off. That’s what most snakes will do.
We took the picture from a distance.
Just leave them alone. Stay away from them. Yes, I took these photos, but I didn’t get close. We just waited a few minutes and the snake left.
If the snake is sunning on a path, just wait, turn around or go a different way. That’s common sense.
If a Snake Bites You
Go to the emergency room.
Don’t do any of the first aid things you have heard about. Don’t tourniquet it. Done try to suck out the venom. Don’t even bother with ice. Just go straight to the emergency room.
Most snakes aren’t venomous. And I just learned that a lot of times venomous snakes just bite, without breaking the skin or injecting venom. But, still… Go to the emergency room.
Don’t do anything else. Just go straight to the emergency room. Or call 911. They will most likely tell you to go straight to the emergency room.
Two Good Ideas if you are snake bit
If you are bit on the hand, take off your rings before your hand swells up.
If you can, take a picture of the snake. At least try to notice what the snake looks like, so you can tell them at the emergency room. Where you are on your way to.
We took the picture from a distance.
When are Snakes Out?
We saw this snake in November. I woulda thought it was too cool for snakes. The alligators were hidden. But, it was a warm day and there he is.
The Island Packet, Hilton Head’s newspaper quotes Jill Michels, managing director of the Palmetto Poison Center in Columbia; “We get snake-bite calls from March through November. August can be our busiest month.” www.islandpacket.com/news/local/news-columns-blogs/untamed-lowcountry/article210380619.html
