Are you afraid of poisonous snakes in summer? In the heat of Santa Catarina, when we seek refuge in the shade and cool places, we are not the only ones seeking refuge.

As temperatures rise, it is important not only to stay hydrated, but also to be alert to the presence of dangerous animals, especially venomous snakes.

Discover the Venomous Snakes of South Carolina – Photo: Visualhunt/Reproduction/ND

A survey conducted by the Military Environmental Police highlights the importance of taking precautions, especially for nature lovers, as accidents involving venomous animals are more common in the state this season.

Attention! See three species of venomous snakes in Santa Catarina:

Coral snake (Micrurus sp.)

Snakes of the genus Micrurus, belonging to the family Elapidae, are commonly known as coral snakes or true coral snakes. Since these snakes have medicinal importance in the state, accidents involving these snakes are common, especially among animals and children.

Corals have spectacular colors with shades of red, black, white or yellow – Visualhunt/Reproduction/ND

They feed mainly on snakes, legless lizards and blind snakes – Visualhunt/Reproduction/ND

Although coral snakes are not considered aggressive, they are diurnal, living in burrows or under foliage and will only attack when touched.

They account for less than 1% of snakebites in Brazil.

Rattlesnake (Crotal)

Snakes of the genus Crotalus, belonging to the family Vipéridae, are known as rattlesnake, boitzininga, maracaboya, maracaboia and rattlesnake.

They are terrestrial, robust, not very mobile, yellowish-brown in color and can reach 1.6 meters in length.

This species has a group of rings at the tip of its tail called a rattle, which makes a characteristic sound when moving – Visualhunt/Reproduction/ND.

Because the rattle may break throughout the snake’s life, the number of rings does not reflect the animal’s age – Visualhunt/Reproduction/ND

A striking feature of these snakes is the rattling sound at the end of the tail and traces of shedding the skin.

Due to this behavior, the number of accidents involving people is reduced as it makes a very loud noise to alert people.

Hararaka (Botrops)

The genus Bothrops includes about 30 species, commonly known by names such as jararaca, Ouricana, jararacussu, urutucruzeira, jararaca-do-rabo-branco, mesh-sapo, patrona, surucukurana, camboya or caisara.

They feed on small rodents – Visualhunt/Reproduction/ND

This is the most common species in the state – Visualhunt/Reproduction/ND.

They mainly inhabit rural areas, the outskirts of large cities and wet places such as forests and cultivated lands.

They were responsible for 74% of the state’s substantiated accidents between 2014 and 2017, according to the UFSC repository.

How to Avoid Accidents with Snakes

To avoid accidents, basic safety precautions must be observed. When walking in the countryside or on trails, it is recommended to wear boots and high tops. Also observe the location carefully before picking up objects from the ground and before entering rivers, lakes or waterfalls.

Heading out on the trail? Wear tall boots and ankle boots to avoid the risk of exposure to venomous snakes. – Photo: PMF/Disclosure

In the event of accidents involving venomous animals, the source of support is CIATox/SC (Santa Catarina Poison Information and Assistance Centre). Another recommendation is to immediately refer the victim to the nearest medical service for appropriate treatment.