The scarlet snake is one of the most common snakes to fall into residential swimming pools in areas with sandy soil.
Scarlet snakes are uncommon on the Savannah River Site.
This species is characteristically associated with sandy soil habitats, including pine woods, scrub oak forests and abandoned old fields. Adults are slightly more than 1 foot long, but seldom reach 2 feet. The belly is dull white, and the nose is pointed and always red. It feeds mainly on reptile eggs but also will eat small lizards, snakes, and rodents.