Can a Coachwhip snake whip you?

According to folklore, the coachwhip – a non-venomous snake that is surprisingly swift – will pursue and attack a person, squeezing its victim in its coils and lashing him to death with its tail. Otherwise, the snake will resume its lashing. …

Are Coachwhip snakes rare?

Coachwhips are found throughout the Coastal Plain but are uncommon and patchily distributed in the Piedmont. They are particularly abundant in sandhills and coastal areas, including barrier islands.

Why are they called whip snakes?

The name “Coachwhip” comes from the large tan scales on its long, slowly tapering tail, which give it the appearance of a braided bullwhip. Coachwhips are one of the longest snakes seen in Florida. These diurnal (active during the day) snakes are extremely fast and agile with keen eyesight.

Are Eastern Coachwhips venomous?

Masticophis flagellum flagellum, commonly known as the Eastern coachwhip, is a subspecies of M. flagellum, a nonvenomous, colubrid snake, endemic to the southern United States.

Where does the Masticophis flagellum live in the US?

Masticophis flagellum flagellum,eastern coachwhip, Florida Photo Credit: Glenn Bartolotti, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons Distribution, Habitat and Diet The coachwhip occupies a range that spans most of the southern half of the United States and the northern half of Mexico.

Where does the Coluber flagellum coachwhip live?

The species Coluber flagellum – Coachwhip, occurs very widely across the southern half of the U.S. from southern California east to Florida, and far south into Mexico, including northeast Baja California.

Where can I find an Eastern coachwhip in Florida?

Adult Eastern coachwhip with black head and neck and tan body exhibiting periscoping behavior. Photo courtesy of Luke Smith. Coachwhips are found throughout mainland Florida in every county. However, they are not known to occur on the Florida Keys, and they appear absent from much of the wetlands south of Lake Okeechobee.

When does a coachwhip snake hatch in Florida?

Hatching typically occurs between August and September. Six subspecies of coachwhip snakes are currently recognized, but only the eastern coachwhip ( Masticophis flagellum flagellum) occurs in Florida. The name “Coachwhip” comes from the large tan scales on its long, slowly tapering tail, which give it the appearance of a braided bullwhip.