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Can a coral snake kill you? What to know about Arizona's most venomous snake
Welcome to Snake Week 2025 at Every day from June 23 through June 29, Ultimate Arizona reporter Tiffany Acosta will bring you a new story about Arizona's favorite slithering reptiles. Follow along to learn about venomous Mojave rattlesnakes, whether it's legal to kill snakes in Arizona, the pros and cons of snakes as pets and the absolutely wildest facts about snakes.
With their bold red, yellow and black stripes, Arizona coral snakes look like they are dressed for a venomous Mardi Gras, but don't let their small size fool you.
These secretive serpents pack a powerful neurotoxic bite, although they are rarely seen and even less likely to strike. Coral snakes are shy, not aggressive, and prefer slithering under rocks, logs or desert debris, living life undercover.
Here is everything to know about coral snakes in Arizona.
Arizona coral snakes are venomous, meaning they can inject toxins through a bite. They are not poisonous to the touch.
An Arizona coral snake's venom is a powerful neurotoxin that can paralyze muscles and, in theory, stop a person's breathing. But it's a small, reclusive snake with tiny fangs and a timid personality. It rarely bites humans and only if seriously provoked. So while it's the most venomous drop for drop, it's not considered the most dangerous.
There has never been a documented death from an Arizona coral snake bite, said Thomas Jones, amphibians and reptiles program manager at the Arizona Game & Fish Department.
'Sonoran coral snakes (the species found in Arizona) are shy and innocuous. They do not want to bite, they want to hide. And yes, the venom is neurotoxic, but they are small, and can only inject a relatively small amount of venom,' Jones said.
'They will bite if handled. Don't do it. It's not worth the risk. There are other coral snakes elsewhere, like the Eastern coral snake in the southeastern U.S. and coral snakes in the tropics that can, and have, killed humans.'
Jones said the term 'deadly' isn't helpful when describing snakes; it's better to focus on how dangerous they are.
'What makes a snake dangerous? Generally, it's behavior, aggressiveness, size, how much venom can it inject at one time and venom components,' Jones said.
Coral snakes' venom is neurotoxic, Jones said; it attacks the nervous system. The venom of most rattlesnakes is hemotoxic, which destroys tissue and blood. Some snakes, like the Mojave rattlesnake, have both venom types, making them particularly dangerous.
'Coral snake venom is different than most rattlesnake venoms. There are certainly ways to assess in the laboratory how deadly a venom is, and by that criterion alone, coral snake venom is worse,' Jones said.
Bites by venomous snakes may require antivenom. In the extremely unlikely event you are bitten by an Arizona coral snake, seek medical help.
The Sonoran Mountain kingsnake is often mistaken for the Arizona coral snake because it has similar red, black and yellow or white banding patterns. These sayings help you tell them apart:
Coral snake: Red touches yellow, a venomous fellow.
Kingsnake: Red touches black, you are safe from attack.
These rhymes aren't foolproof everywhere in the world, but they work well in the United States.
Sonoran Mountain kingsnakes mimic coral snakes as a defense mechanism, a strategy called Batesian mimicry, tricking predators into thinking they are dangerous when they are harmless.
Jones said the Sonoran shovel-nosed snake, resplendent shovel-nosed snake and ground snakes are sometimes mistaken for coral snakes.
Coral snakes lay their eggs in hidden, protected spots, often in early summer, and then leave them to hatch on their own.
'Snakes do not nest. Egg layers, like coral snakes, deposit their eggs in holes in the ground or in leaf litter, mulch, inside dead logs or wherever they find the appropriate microhabitat that will incubate the eggs. They lay eggs and leave,' Jones said.
Arizona coral snakes are primarily nocturnal and crepuscular, meaning they are most active at night or during the early evening and dawn hours, especially in warmer months or after monsoon rain. Avoid their habitat at these times.
Coral snake activity depends on the time of year, Jones said: "They can be active during the day in spring or fall, or primarily at night or early morning/late evening in summer, warmer months.'
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Coral snakes are rarely encountered around homes.
'It is not a snake that generally shows up in yards,' Jones said. 'It's not an issue, so I wouldn't even suggest ways to do this.'
No. Coral snakes are shy, reclusive and would much rather slither away than pick a fight.
'They are beautiful and fascinating snakes, and it's always a treat to encounter one in the wild. If you see one, stop and enjoy it,' Jones said.
Just don't try to handle it.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: This is the most venomous ― and colorful ― snake in Arizona
