You’re gardening in the humid Florida heat, pulling back a heavy mulch of damp oak leaves, when something moves. It’s bright. It’s thin. It’s got rings of red and black that look like they were painted on with high-gloss enamel. Your heart does a little stutter-step. Most people immediately think of the rhyme—the one about "Red touch yellow, kill a fellow"—but honestly, in the heat of the moment, who actually remembers if the rhyme was about Jack or a fellow?
Florida is basically the snake capital of the U.S. We have about 44 species of snakes here, and while the vast majority are harmless, the ones that carry venom tend to be the ones that look like a box of spilled crayons. Red and black snakes in Florida are a source of constant neighborhood drama on Nextdoor and Facebook groups, usually because people can't tell a harmless pet-store lookalike from a genuine Eastern Coral Snake.
It's actually pretty simple once you stop panicking.
The Eastern Coral Snake: The one that actually matters
If we’re talking about red and black snakes in Florida, the Eastern Coral Snake (Micrurus fulvius) is the heavy hitter. It's beautiful. It's also remarkably shy. Unlike a Cottonmouth that might stand its ground, a Coral Snake usually wants absolutely nothing to do with you. They spend most of their lives underground or buried in leaf litter, which is why you mostly see them after a heavy rain or when you’re digging in the yard.
Here is the deal with the colors: they have rings of red, yellow, and black. The key is that the red rings touch the yellow rings. It’s a high-contrast warning sign.
They have fixed fangs. This is a weird biological detail that most people get wrong. People used to say Coral Snakes have to "chew" on you to deliver venom because their fangs are small. That is a myth. A dangerous one. They can deliver a potent neurotoxic venom with a single quick snap. While deaths are extremely rare because we have antivenom, a bite is a medical emergency that involves potential respiratory failure.
You’ll notice their snout is always black. Always. If the nose is red, you’re looking at a different animal entirely.
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The Scarlet Kingsnake: The great imitator
Then you have the Scarlet Kingsnake. These guys are the reason people get confused. Evolution is a trippy thing; these harmless snakes evolved to look almost exactly like Coral Snakes to scare off predators. It’s called Batesian mimicry. Basically, they're "faking it 'til they make it."
In a Scarlet Kingsnake, the red rings touch the black rings. The yellow never touches the red.
They are tiny. Usually, they don't get much longer than 14 to 20 inches. They’re great for your garden because they eat small lizards and even other snakes. Honestly, if you have one of these living under your porch, you’re lucky. They’re like free pest control that happens to look like a piece of expensive jewelry.
Mud Snakes and Black Racers: The "Wait, is that red?" crowd
Sometimes people report seeing red and black snakes in Florida that don't have rings at all.
Enter the Mud Snake (Farancia abacura). These things are gorgeous and weird. They are heavy-bodied, glossy black on top, and have a vibrant red-and-black checkered belly. Sometimes that red spills up onto the sides in little triangles. They live in cypress swamps and marshes and mostly eat giant aquatic salamanders called sirens.
They have a funny habit of pressing their pointy tail tip against your skin if you pick them up. It doesn't sting. It's just a bluff. Old-timers in the Everglades used to call them "Hoop Snakes" because of a tall tale that they would grab their tail in their mouth and roll after people like a bicycle tire. Obviously, that's total nonsense. Snakes don't roll.
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Then there is the Southern Black Racer. When they are babies, they aren't black. They’re grayish with reddish-brown blotches. People freak out and kill them thinking they’re Pygmy Rattlesnakes or something exotic. Don't do that. Racers are the "good guys" of the Florida ecosystem. They grow up to be sleek, jet-black speedsters that eat rodents.
Why the "Red on Yellow" rhyme is actually kind of dangerous
We’ve all heard it: Red touch yellow, kill a fellow; red touch black, friend of Jack.
It works in Florida. Mostly.
The problem is that nature is messy. You can find "aberrant" individuals. There are documented cases of Eastern Coral Snakes with missing yellow bands or weird mutations. Also, if you go down to South America or even parts of the American Southwest, the rhyme completely falls apart. Different species play by different rules.
If you see a snake with red and black on it, just give it three feet of space. It can’t jump. It doesn't want to chase you. Just let it go about its business.
What to do if you find a red and black snake in your yard
First, breathe.
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Most "snake sightings" end with the snake disappearing into the grass before you can even grab a phone to take a picture. If you are worried about your pets or kids, the best thing you can do is make your yard less "snake-friendly."
- Stop the clutter. Snakes love piles of wood, old tarps, and overgrown brush.
- Control the lizard population. I know, the little brown anoles are everywhere, but they are snake snacks.
- Seal the gaps. If you have a crawlspace or gaps under your doors, get some weather stripping.
If you are bitten, do not try the "Old West" stuff. No cutting the wound. No sucking out the venom. No tourniquets. That just makes the tissue damage worse. Keep the limb still, keep it below heart level, and get to an ER. Florida hospitals are very well-equipped for this.
The big picture on Florida's colorful locals
Florida’s wildlife is part of the charm. Seeing a splash of red and black in the palmettos is a reminder that we live in a subtropical wilderness, even if there’s a Starbucks right down the street. Understanding the difference between a Coral Snake and a Kingsnake isn't just about safety; it's about respecting the local "residents."
The Eastern Coral Snake is a shy, beautiful recluse. The Scarlet Kingsnake is a harmless actor. Both deserve to be left alone.
Immediate steps for Florida homeowners
If you've spotted a snake and you're still unsure of what it is, don't try to catch it or kill it. Most bites happen when people try to interact with the animal.
- Snap a photo from a distance: Zoom lenses are your friend. You can upload the photo to the "Florida Snake ID" group on Facebook or use the "iNaturalist" app. Experts there usually respond within minutes.
- Check your mulch: If you just had new cypress mulch delivered, be extra careful. Snakes often hitch a ride in those bags or find the damp piles perfect for hiding.
- Educate the kids: Teach them the "Three-Foot Rule." If you see a snake, stay three feet back and tell an adult. No rhymes needed—just distance.
- Keep the number for Poison Control handy: 1-800-222-1222. Put it in your phone. They can coordinate with hospitals to ensure antivenom is ready before you even arrive at the emergency room.
Living with red and black snakes in Florida is just part of the deal when you move to the Sunshine State. Once you lose the fear and replace it with a little bit of identification knowledge, they go from being "scary monsters" to just another interesting neighbor in the garden.