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eastern diamondback rattlesnake

Can Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnakes Swim? Hilton Head Pool Video Explained

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Yes. Eastern diamondback rattlesnakes can swim, and a video reported from Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, shows one crossing a backyard pool before climbing out and moving toward nearby woods. South Carolina Department of Natural Resources wildlife official Jay Cantrell identified the snake after reviewing the footage, according to news reports; the video has not been independently verified here.

What the Hilton Head pool video shows

The Cool Down reported on October 3, 2026, that the pool was in the Palmetto Dunes area of Hilton Head Island. The video was recorded by Jill McIlvaine and shared by her daughter, Ellen. The reports describe the snake swimming the length of the pool, exiting headfirst, crossing the patio, and heading toward nearby woods. The Cool Down’s report and an earlier AOL story based on Island Packet reporting attribute the identification to Cantrell, SCDNR’s assistant chief of wildlife. He reportedly called it “absolutely” an eastern diamondback and a “very healthy one.”

The reports do not give a measured length, sex, age, or later outcome for this individual snake. The description “large” is not a measurement.

Can an eastern diamondback swim in a pool?

Swimming is a known ability of the species. The Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute describes eastern diamondbacks as adept swimmers that sometimes swim in salt water between barrier reefs and along swamp edges. That establishes that the snake in the clip could swim; it does not establish that residential-pool encounters are common. Smithsonian’s species account does not quantify how often the snakes enter pools.

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What kind of snake was it?

According to Cantrell’s reported review of the footage, it was an eastern diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus adamanteus). The species has dark, diamond-shaped blotches along its back, bordered by yellowish scales. Smithsonian also describes a dark band across the eye outlined by pale stripes. These are useful identification features, but they are not a reason to approach a live snake for a closer look. SCDNR’s eastern diamondback profile describes its markings and South Carolina status.

Are eastern diamondbacks found in South Carolina?

Yes. SCDNR gives the species’ range as coastal lowlands from southeast North Carolina to the Florida Keys and identifies longleaf pine ecosystems as preferred habitat. Its profile lists the eastern diamondback as a South Carolina Species of Concern; the designation does not itself provide legal protection. SCDNR also notes that longleaf pine ecosystems are threatened by conversion to plantations and urban areas.

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Presence in coastal South Carolina is not the same as being common statewide. SCDNR’s venomous-snake guide describes eastern diamondbacks in the state as rare to very uncommon. One pool encounter does not establish a local population trend.

How large and dangerous is an eastern diamondback?

Smithsonian gives an average length of 3–6 feet, with some adults reaching 8 feet. These are species-level figures, not measurements of the snake in the Hilton Head video. The species is venomous, and Smithsonian says its bite can be fatal. The institution also notes that human deaths from rattlesnake bites are rare because antivenom is available throughout the species’ range.

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What should you do if you see one in a yard or pool?

Keep your distance and leave the snake alone. SCDNR says snakes are nonaggressive when left alone and advises people to leave a snake alone when they are uncertain of its identity. The agency also advises against trying to kill venomous snakes. Do not approach, handle, trap, or try to drive the animal away; avoid putting yourself near it to inspect markings or use pool equipment around it. SCDNR’s reptile and amphibian FAQ and its Venomous Snakes of South Carolina guide provide the agency’s safety guidance.

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Why might a rattlesnake be moving?

In an August 2026 report, Cantrell said eastern diamondbacks are more visible in August and September because it is breeding season and “they are on the move.” That was his explanation of seasonal visibility in that report; it does not establish when the Hilton Head clip was recorded or why that particular snake crossed the pool. The clip’s route shows where the animal went, not what drew it there.

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