Coral snake found back in Alabama
Published: June 29, 2009
ROCKFORD, Ala. (AP) - The first coral snake in 40 years has been found in the wilds of central Alabama.
Nick Sharp, a biologist with the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, was checking on red-cockaded woodpecker habitat in a longleaf pine forest, Forest Wild, when he saw the brilliant colors of the coral snake - alternating bands of red, yellow and black.
The snake is rare, especially north of Alabama’s Coastal Plain.
According to several biologists, the last documented reports of a coral snake in the region - one each from Coosa, Bibb, and Talladega - are more than 40 years old.
The long-leaf pine forest, with its well-drained soil, was a likely place to see one.
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The fact that this is the first sighting in 40 years is not accurate. There was a coral snake bite patient(the snake was in the wild) treated at then Medical Center East about 10 years ago. The antivenom had to be flown in from Atlanta, because all of the anitvenom in the Birmingham area was expired.
Wow this is great news. such a rare and beautiful snake to be seen reestablishing itself.
blount county is out of this animals native habitat. leaving no offense the only way he would have gotten bit would be by a private collectors escapee or he was in fact bit by a different venomous snake.
If he spent that long in the hospital even 10 yrs ago. He either did not seek medical attention for days or was likely bitten by a canebrake or copperhead.
Don’t rely on your neighbors and families tales of snake bites etc. My neighbors still seem to think there is a snake that can curl in to a loop by biting its tail and roll away and that her husband was bit by one.
A man on Pine Mountain in Blount County, Alabama was bitten by a coral snake about ten years ago. My family knows him personally. He spent six weeks in the hospital recovering. The wildlife folks need to update their records. The man’s recovery was documented by UAB because they never had the opportunity to witness a coral snake victim before.
WOW! Glad I don’t live there. I’m only afraid of four (4)kinds of snakes: BIG ONES, SMALL ONES, and LIVE ONES, and, DEAD ONES…
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