Sharks, Snakes, and Alligators!

One of more common questions I receive about our area is am I going to be eaten or killed by one of the following: snakes, sharks and/or alligators. Let’s look at the numbers! 

Number of fatal attacks in Horry and Georgetown Counties on record:

Shark: Zero
Alligator: One
Snake: Zero
As demonstrated by these numbers… the chances of you being fatally attacked by a shark, snake or alligator is virtually zero. If you have stairs in your house, you are much more likely to die from those attacking you. That said, I’m not moving to Florida where those numbers are significantly higher. 4 people died from snake bites in 2022 alone, 30 people have died from alligator attacks since 1948 and 16 deadly shark attacks are on record. In case you’re keeping score, that’s more than every other state in every category. If you’re reading about a deadly attack… it's probably Florida. 

Will I encounter any of these animals? Most likely and I hope you do. 

One of the best places to see sharks is by walking on any of the area’s fishing piers. During the busy fishing season when there’s a lot of bait and food in the water, it's common to see sharks of all sizes congregating around the pier for a meal. I advise everyone I meet to see this for themselves so that its easier for them to understand why signs are posted saying no swimming around the piers. 

My favorite place to see alligators in the area is Huntington Beach State Park. As you drive through the entrance towards the beach, there’s often traffic because of alligators crossing the road. There’s a large, shallow tidal creek that typically has alligators in it. I’ve very rarely encountered them in the wild. In countless trips on the many rivers and creeks we have in the area, seeing an alligator is decently rare. 

If you’re here long enough, you’ll probably encounter a snake. Our warm sub-tropical climate is perfect snakes and we have a wide variety of species that live in a variety of habitats. It can be startling to see one in your yard but the most important thing to do is to be mindful of your surroundings. The vast majority of snakes sense your footsteps long before you see them and they are moving to get away from you. Most snake bites occur from people aggravating the snake. If a snake is coiled up, it's ready to strike and you should stay away. Leave it alone and it will move along and keep eating rodents and pests. 

Should you move here if you’re afraid of this variety of wildlife? Only you can answer that question. I personally would choose gorgeous and interesting wildlife over shoveling snow and high taxes. But each person should make the best decision for themselves. Adrianne and I are natives who love introducing people to the Grand Strand. If you have questions or we can help you, please don’t hesitate to ask. We’d love to learn more about you and your family’s situation to see how we can best serve you with your real estate needs. 

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