This snake occupies a variety of habitats, from dry, well-drained flatwoods and scrub areas to low, wet hammocks and the borders of swamps. They are quite secretive and are usually found under debris and in the ground, but occasionally they are found in the open, and have even been seen climbing the trunks of live oaks. Good numbers of them are turned up when pine flatwoods are bulldozed, particularly in south Florida. Because the coral snake is a relative of the cobras, people believe its bite nearly always is fatal. While its bite is serious and should receive immediate medical attention, statistics suggest that the bite of the coral snake is less threatening than the bite of an eastern diamondback rattlesnake.
Coral snakes feed on lizards, other snakes, and frogs.
The coral snake has a black nose while both the scarlet kingsnake and the scarlet snake have red noses. Also, on both the coral snake and the scarlet kingsnake the rings go all the way around the body, but not on the scarlet snake which has a white belly.