Mischievous snakes caught on video dangling from SC tree. What were they doing?

Two South Carolina snakes have become social media celebrities, after the brazen pair decided to mate while dangling from a tree in an otherwise quiet coastal neighborhood.

The rascals were identified as eastern rat snakes, and their encounter took place Sunday near the 18-hole Sanctuary Golf Club At Cat Island.

Video of the two rubbing and gnawing each other passionately was shared on Facebook by the community group Eat Stay Play Beaufort, and it has been viewed nearly 30,000 times as of Monday afternoon.

“Well, here’s something you don’t see everyday (thank goodness!),” the group posted with the video.

“These two large snakes were spotted tangled up and ‘hanging around’ in our neighbors tree today. Talk about WILD!”

The 24-second video is credited to Ma Tate. It’s not clear if she’s the woman heard gasping in the video when one of the snakes looked directly at the camera. “Do not look at me,” the woman is heard saying.

Reaction to the video on social media has been a mix of admiration, humor and horror, with Sandie McAbee Littlefield advising “Somebody shoot!”

“Note to self: Stay off Cat Island,” Dana F. Parker wrote.

“Burn that tree down,” Shirley Garrett Mulholland added.

Rat snakes are nonvenomous rodent eaters and considered harmless, though some grow to an intimidating 6 feet, according to the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory at the University of Georgia.

“Rat snakes are constrictors, and adept climbers that can scale brick walls as well as tree trunks,” the laboratory reports. “When frightened they often assume a ‘kinked’ posture and remain motionless. They will vibrate the tail and expel malodorous musk.”

This story was originally published July 6, 2020 at 3:02 PM with the headline "Mischievous snakes caught on video dangling from SC tree. What were they doing?."