Harmless · North Carolina
Northern Scarlet Snake
Cemophora coccinea
White or gray snake with red saddles bordered by black.
At a glance
Size
Usually 14-26 inches.
North Carolina range
Piedmont, Coastal Plain
Habitat
sandy woods, fields
Diet
Primarily reptile eggs; also small lizards, snakes, and rodents.
Pattern
saddles
Venomous
No
How to identify it
Small snake with red dorsal saddles bordered in black on a pale gray or white background; the bands do not encircle the belly.
Where to look in North Carolina
Occurs mainly in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain.
Sandy woods, fields, and pine habitats where it often burrows.
Regional maps show broad physiographic provinces, not county-level records.
Photo guide
Use the gallery to check pattern, body shape, and context—not just overall color.
