Ssssup, Daniel Island. For all of our readers with ophidiophobia (the fear of snakes), now might be a good time to slither on down to other sections of the newspaper.

If you’ve ever wandered through a swamp or even spotted a long, legless creature disappearing into the neighborhood, you might’ve wondered, “What species is this, and how dangerous are they?” Good news: in South Carolina, you’re far more likely to share a story about spotting a harmless snake than about being harmed by one. In fact, of the roughly 38 snake species slithering around the Palmetto State, only six are venomous. That leaves more than 30 nonvenomous neighbors doing important work in our ecosystems.

First, a quick shout‑out to the good guys. Nonvenomous snakes play pest patrol every day, gobbling up rodents, frogs, and bugs that otherwise might crash your picnic or nibble your veggies. Species like corn snakes, black racers, rat snakes, ringneck snakes, eastern indigo snakes, and water snakes are all harmless to humans. Many of these are vibrant and fascinating to observe, and most would rather flee than fight.

And now, the VIPs (Very Interesting Pit‑vipers): the venomous six. South Carolina’s venomous lineup includes:

Venomous snakes are fascinating and play an important role in balancing natural food webs, but they’re generally not out to get you. Most prefer to avoid humans and will give ample warning (think: rattles, retreating into brush, or simply sliding away) before anything else. Bites are rare, and fatalities even rarer. Still, it’s wise to give any snake the space it deserves.

One of the best tricks for telling venomous from nonvenomous isn’t just “don’t poke it.” Instead, look at patterns, head shape, pupil shape, habitat, and body build, and when in doubt, treat the mystery snake with respect and keep your distance.

For example, coral snakes have a unique banding pattern (you might’ve heard this rhyme: “Red touches yellow, kill a fellow; red touches black, friend of Jack”) that helps separate them from lookalikes like the scarlet kingsnake.

Appreciating these slithery residents for their pest‑control prowess and understanding when a snake means business can turn a “Yikes!” moment into a “Neat!” moment. And if you ever feel uncertain, remember what seasoned herpers always say: Look, don’t touch.

Many U.S. residents were either on the move last year or thinking about a move, and we know which states, counties and cities were the most popular destinations in 2025. Using online search data and accounting for population size, this U.S. News & World Report.

research revealed the top 50 state, county and city destinations in the U.S. by their move-in to move-out ratios.

Not surprisingly, South Carolina was a popular move destination, with its city of Conway topping the list of migration interest. Also, Horry County, where Conway is located, landed in the second spot in our county list of popular move locations.

Other sought-after state destinations ranged from some in the Northeast to the South and West, with less interest in Midwest states like Ohio and Indiana.

Most Sought-After States: Six of Top 10 in South

The appeal of South Carolina is easy to understand, with its mild weather and proximity to the Atlantic Ocean coastline, but some of the other states in the top 10 offer much more rugged conditions, including Idaho, Alaska, Maine and South Dakota. Besides the Palmetto State, other Southern states attracting considerable interest in 2025 included North Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama and Arkansas, with Delaware rounding out the top 10 in migration interest (the U.S. Census Bureau includes Delaware in the South region, specifically the South Atlantic region, though many in the U.S. would consider it a Northeastern state).

The 50 states in our research are shown below. Washington, D.C., is included, with the only state excluded being Hawaii, which came in at No. 51.

1. South Carolina

2. Idaho

3. Alaska

4. North Carolina

5. Maine

6. Tennessee

7. Delaware

8. South Dakota

9. Alabama

10.Arkansas

Most Sought-After Counties

Here are the top 50 counties with the highest migration interest:

1. Brunswick County, North Carolina

2. Horry County, South Carolina

3. Washington County, Tennessee

4. Sumter County, Florida

5. Marion County, Florida

6. Ellis County, Texas

7. Catawba County, North Carolina

8. Greenville County, South Carolina

9. Dorchester County, South Carolina

10. Gaston County, North Carolina

Most Sought-After Cities

The top 50 U.S. cities generating relocation interest in 2025 included:

1. Conway, South Carolina

2. Johnson City, Tennessee

3. Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

4. The Villages, Florida

5. Ocala, Florida

6. Bend, Oregon

7. Portland, Maine

8. New Braunfels, Texas

9. Bluffton, South Carolina

10. Apex, North Carolina

Provided by U.S. News & World Report.

Keep track of South Carolina's measles outbreak at the SC's Dept. of Health Department's daily updates.

While South Carolina continues to be at the epicenter of the largest measles outbreak in 25 years, Berkeley County is preparing for the potential impact on local schools.

As of Feb. 3, the state has 876 confirmed cases of the virus, primarily in the Upstate, which accounts for 80% of the cases in the United States this year.

With the number of cases rising, Charleston-area health officials are warning that unvaccinated communities – even in the Lowcountry – remain most at risk.

“Measles is one of the most contagious infections we know,” said Dr. Stephen Thacker, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at MUSC Children’s Health. “It spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes, and the virus can linger in a room for hours, which makes it really easy for us to spread.”

The disease is far more serious than its signature rash suggests, as Thacker said, “It can cause high fever, pneumonia, brain swelling, and sometimes lead to hospitalization, and in rare cases, death."

WHO'S MOST AT RISK?

Infants, young children under age five, pregnant individuals, and people with weakened immune systems are especially vulnerable.

Symptoms typically appear seven to 12 days after exposure and include cough, runny nose, red watery eyes, and fever, followed by a rash that spreads from the face to the body.

Families who suspect exposure should contact a health care provider immediately. Doctors may use isolation measures and could ask patients to remain at home until cleared.

Health officials said most of the cases involve unvaccinated or under-vaccinated individuals, often linked to travel or communities with lower vaccination rates.

According to Dr. Kent Stock, an epidemiologist with Roper St. Francis Healthcare, “If you don’t have a vaccination rate of 95% or higher, then you won’t be able to achieve herd immunity.”

Berkeley County’s vaccination rate currently hovers around 93%, leaving the area at a higher risk.

BERKELEY CO. SCHOOLS PREPARE

Schools are closely monitoring the situation.

While no confirmed cases have been reported in Berkeley County to date, the school district is urging parents to ensure their children are up to date on the MMR vaccine.

If a measles case is confirmed on campus, schools must immediately exclude the student, notify the Department of Health, and also exclude any students without a current MMR record.

Unvaccinated students can receive the vaccine within 72 hours to return to school.

In an email sent to parents, the Berkeley County School District stated that “maintaining high vaccination rates is essential to preventing outbreaks and protecting the broader community through herd immunity.”

HEALTH OFFICIALS: GET VACCINATED

Health care professionals said vaccinations remain the most effective protection.

“The most important step is really to make sure that children receive the MMR vaccine,” Thacker said. Children receive one dose around age one and a second dose between ages four and six.

For infants too young to be vaccinated, Thacker recommends a “cocooning” strategy, ensuring parents, siblings, and caregivers are fully immunized, avoiding large crowds, and, in certain situations, giving infants an early MMR dose.

Stock stressed the wider impact of an outbreak.

“Because of exposure, it’s a significant interruption to not only the public, but also businesses," he said. "So it’s in our interest economically to promote vaccination and mitigation techniques that will protect our citizens.”

With measles spreading rapidly in the Upstate, Berkeley County families are urged to check vaccination records and speak with health care providers.

Stock warned, “We all feel it’s just a matter of time before it ultimately reaches the Lowcountry."

Berkeley County Sheriff Duane Lewis joined local leaders to cut the ribbon on the Tri-County Biological Science Center, the first regional DNA-testing collaboration in South Carolina’s history, on Jan. 26.

The new 21,000-square-foot facility, located at 3765 Leeds Avenue in North Charleston, features state-of-the-art forensic biology laboratory space, executive offices, and secure evidence storage.

The center will support law enforcement agencies across Charleston, Berkeley, and Dorchester counties by analyzing physical evidence, assisting coroners with the identification of human remains, and providing expert testimony in court.

“Today isn’t just about opening a building. It is about opening doors to justice, answers, and healing for people in our community,” Sheriff Lewis said in a statement. “This center represents what can happen when counties come together with a shared purpose: serving victims, protecting the innocent, and strengthening public safety across the Tri-County area.”

The Biological Science Center is the result of a partnership between Berkeley, Dorchester, and Charleston counties. Sheriff Lewis expressed gratitude to Berkeley County Council for approving the funding and to Charleston County leaders for their collaboration in bringing the project to fruition.

“From a human standpoint, this is a game changer,” Lewis stated. “For victims and their families, waiting months, or even years, for DNA results can feel like reliving trauma over and over again. Faster testing allows us to move more quickly toward justice, closure, and healing.”

With the opening of the center, DNA evidence will now be processed locally rather than being delayed by long backlogs elsewhere. This change is expected to significantly reduce turnaround times, provide quicker investigative leads, and deliver faster answers for victims and their families while also easing the burden on the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) Forensic Services Laboratory.

“DNA doesn’t just help us identify suspects. It also helps us clear those who are innocent,” Sheriff Lewis stated. “Faster access to accurate forensic science strengthens trust in the justice system by ensuring investigations are thorough, fair, and based on facts.”

Provided by Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office.