Understanding the differences between coral and milk snakes is crucial for proper identification and treatment in case of a bite. Coral snakes possess highly toxic venom, primarily neurotoxic, causing paralysis and even death. Milk snakes, on the other hand, have minimal to no venom, making their bites mostly harmless. Distinguishing these snakes involves examining their patterns: coral snakes exhibit red bands touching yellow or black bands, while milk snakes have red bands touching black bands. The “red-touching-yellow” rule aids in identifying venomous coral snakes, but the “black-touching-red” rule can be misleading as some non-venomous species also exhibit this pattern.