Question: ”Red touch yellow, kill a fellow; red touch black, friend of Jack”—but which U.S. snakes break the “red touch yellow” rule?
Brian Sanchez, Margate, Fla.

bill love

'Red on yellow kills a fellow. Red on black, venom lack.' Or 'Red touches black, it’s a friend of Jack. Red touches yellow, it’s bad for a fellow.' Or 'Red touches yellow, you're a dead fellow. Red touches black, you're okay Jack.' Coral snakes in North America are most notable for their red, yellow/white, and black colored banding.

• Variations on the saying “Red on yellow, kill a fellow; red on black, friend of Jack” refer to the colored bands found on some species of snakes. Learning the patterns of these markings—called rings or crossbands depending on how far they wrap around the snake—can help identify the animals and aid in personal safety.
• What does this phrase mean Red touch yellow kill a fellow red touch black friend of jack? Wiki User September 14, 2011 1:55AM.

Organ Pipe shovel-nose snake (Chionactis palarostris).

Answer: First, to clarify for anyone not understanding the question, this old poem was devised to help distinguish between coral snakes (Micrurus fulvius), in which the red and yellow body rings come in contact, and (primarily) the nonvenomous scarlet king snake (Lampropeltis triangulum elapsoides) in which the red and yellow (or white) body rings always are separated by black. The scarlet snake (Cemophora coccinea), which is unrelated to the king and milk snakes, also is considered a mimic by some authors.

This clever rhyme has been around for 75 or more years and doubtlessly spared many children from an unpleasant experience or even death. I’ve heard many comrades ridicule the rhyme being quick to point out its inadequacy for the whole country. In its defense, those words hold true when you’re east of the Mississippi River, and I’m sure they were never intended to be a comprehensive rule for outside the range of the eastern coral snake in the southeastern U.S.

bill love

Arizona coral snake (Micruroides euryxanthus).

Once you move westward in the U.S., several small snake species occur that break this “rule.” These include the multi-colored and patterned ground snakes (Sonora semiannulata), the sand snakes (Chilomeniscus stramineus) and the shovel-nosed snakes (Chionactis occipitalis and C. palarostris). All are small, seldom exceeding 12 inches in length, and co-exist side-by-side with the small Arizona coral snake (Micruroides euryxanthus).

Trophy Club shares a border with hundreds of acres of natural, undeveloped property that is home to a large wildlife population. Many variables, including weather, climate changes, the season, human behavior, etc can cause the wildlife to move into residential neighborhoods seeking shelter, food and water sources. These animals, although sometimes a nuisance, are generally not a danger to humans or pets (and want to avoid people as much as people want to avoid them).

Recently, there have been several snake sightings around town and although some snakes are venomous, the majority of snakes are non-venomous. Many of the non-venomous snakes are beneficial and should not be killed. For example, the Rat Snake eats undesirable rodents commonly found around human habitats. If you find a snake on your property and would like assistance removing or ending it, please call Police Dispatch at 972.434.5500 Ext. 9. Those nonvenomous snakes that can be relocated will be and those venous ones will be dealt with appropriately.
Below is a list of snakes found in the area that a resident might encounter, along with a photo for further identification.

Common Snakes — LAND

Red And Black Friend Of Jack Saying

Common Snakes — WATER

Red Yellow Black Friend Of Jack

*Venomous Snakes

Copper Head
Thick copper/brown band marking around the body. Be careful around garden beds, leaf piles, fallen trees/branch, and log piles. Their color blends well in these areas. Not all Copperheads are truly a distinctive copper color.

Coral Snake
The coral snake has bright red, yellow, and black bands that encircle the whole body. This snake is easily confused with a Milk Snake. Here is an easy rhyme to figure out if the snake is a venomous Coral Snake or harmless milk snake. Red next to Yellow, kill a fellow. Red next to Black, a friend of Jack. The venomous coral snake will have its red coloring band next to yellow bands. The harmless milk snake will have its red band next to black bands.

Red Next To Black A Friend Of Jack

This snake is usually shy and nonaggressive- but that doesn’t mean you should get close, stay away!

Rattlesnakes
There are many different species of rattlesnakes in Texas, therefore rattlesnakes can have many different markings and coloring. The main way to identify a rattlesnake is the rattle at the end of the snake. The snake will rattle when they feel threatened, however, this is not a definite. It is possible for rattlesnakes to not give a “warning” rattle before striking.

Water Moccasin
Also known as a Cotton Mouth. This is because when the snake feels threatened, it will open its mouth, which is white. This snake will have wide bands, that can range in color from dark brown, black, and deep olive green. Young Water Moccasins can have these colors, but lighter. The Water Moccasin has a notable “thick” body” or “heavy-bodied' and is around 3 feet long. This snake can be seen in the water or on land. This snake is known to be aggressive!

Snake Do's and Don'ts

• If you see a snake or hear a snake (like a rattlesnake for example) remain calm, stop any sudden movements, and back away slowly.
• Don’t play with dead snakes! They still have venom in their system, and could still bite you because of the snake's muscle contractions.
• Stay away from tall grass, rock piles or large rocks, fallen trees/branches, and leaf piles- snakes like to hide here. If you are going to be in areas like these, wear tall hiking boots or snake boots! This will help decrease the chances of the snake piercing your skin.
• Snakes can be by creek/waterbeds too. Wear the correct footwear when going around natural water areas too!
• Be careful in flower beds, the snake will hide here too. Flip flops are nice in the summer, but give you zero protection. Opt for closed toed shoes when outside.

Red Next To Black Friend Of Jack

How to deal with a Snake Bite

• Try to remember the color and markings of the snake, but DO NOT get close to the snake, or try to find the snake.
• Try to remember what time the bite happened.
• Keep yourself and/or the victim calm. An increased heart rate will not help the situation. Remove tight-fitting clothing and jewelry- this is helpful in case there is swelling.
• Call 9-1-1 for assistance immediately. Our ambulances DO NOT carry anti-venom. However, we can help monitor vital signs while we take you to a large hospital for the appropriate care.
• If you're bitten by a snake that is not venomous- wash the bite site with soap and water, and treat like a minor wound. If there are any adverse reactions that set in later, such as difficulty breathing, etc, call 911.

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