Snakes in Summerville?????? (Charleston, North: safe area, camping, living in)

[Jakaleo]

Hi all,

I was hesitating asking this question for fear of people thinking I am nuts but I saw that someone else had posted a question about bugs so here it goes...
I know there are snakes in SC, but do you ever see them within the neighborhoods? I am extremely scared of snakes. I am not the "outdoor" type, but would not want snakes(especially harmful ones) around my home. I am planning on moving to Summerville within the year and would just like to prepare myself. Any info would be great!

[NS_Highlander]

I have yet to see any snakes, but there are plenty of varieties around.

There are 4 varities of vipers

Copperheads
Eastern Diamondback, Pigmy and Timber Rattlesnake

[aponeil]

I'm interested in this answer too! Thanks for going ahead and just asking. Here in NH all we have is the harmless Garter snake. I am trying to prep my young girls to stay away from any snakes when we too move to Summerville. Currently it is not uncommon for them to try and catch the garter snakes. I see that this lack of a healthy fear of snakes will have to stop.
What about poisonous spiders - while we are at it? You see, up here in NH we have lots of mosquitos in summer, and the hassle of snow/ice in the winter, but no real harmful wildlife. Any wildlife we encounter is pretty good at stearing clear of humans (bull moose, coyotes, fishers). I will have to get used to critters that "lie and wait".

[aponeil]

Hi, I found these photos of typical SC snakes.
SC Snake Pictures Page

[Jakaleo]

Thanks aponeil. Sounds like we have alot in common. I live in MA and will hopefully be moving to Summerville within this year(pending on selling my house). My girls are also very interesting in catching certain snakes, bugs etc. I have never lived in the south and don't want to worry when they are out back playing in the yard. I'm glad to hear that one post said that they are not seen in the area. Hopefully we will hear back the same from some other posts!

[scjj]

Oh they are out there. Just had a snake in our yard last week as a matter of fact. Black with red on the sides. I find snake skins around in my yard. I almost stepped on a copperhead one time going for a walk around the neighborhood and have also seen them in the yard. It's not often, but I have seen them.

[GaryK]

I'm from Ma. also and will be visiting again in 2 weeks. Snakes are not my favorite either. I will be bringing my hockey stick when I move down! I've seen snakes down there hanging from trees. My camping and hiking days will be replaced by boating in the ocean. The only Vipers I want to see in my yard are red GT's!

[charlestonlady]

The majority of the housing communities are fairly new in the Summerville area so...the so called critters have been pushed out of their safe areas and we have moved in. Snakes abound in Summerville and every other area of South Carolina and no getting around it. Sorry people.....Im sure if you look long and hard you will find them in your areas too. Just be aware and stay afar.......

[Jakaleo]

Thanks to everyone who responded. It was not exactly the answers I was hoping for, but I am not completely naive either. I knew there were snakes, but almost stepping on a copperhead in the neighborhood is a little concerning to me. Again, I will not be hiking or camping etc, but I am fearful of my 3 children playing in the yard if there are venomous snakes around. My husband got relocated to Charleston and we will need to live in a suburb near by. Does anyone know if some towns are less likely to have snakes, or is it just something you have to "suck up" and deal with? Thanks.

[scjj]

I think it is something you are going to have to deal with just living in the south in general. Especially in the Charleston area with there being a lot of marshes and water around. I would find snakes in my yard in North Carolina as well. I once had a 3 foot green snake sunbathing across my front porch in N.C., but we did live near a marsh.