Most snake bites ever in NC in first six months, poison control says

The North Carolina Poison Control said 2024 will likely be the busiest year for snake bites in North Carolina.

There have been 257 snake bites through the first six months of the year, according to the North Carolina Poison Control.

A spokesperson with NCPC said North Carolina outpaced its six-month total of 247 snake bites in 2020 and is currently on pace to exceed the number of snake bites from that year, 733.

“Our case volume of ‘snake bites’ is even more than this, because we get calls about unknown snakes – both those that are not known if they are venomous and those that are known to be venomous,” the spokesperson said.

According to WakeMed, the hospital has treated nine patients for snake bites since June 1, and six needed anti-venom.

Scott Fedorchak, a volunteer with Scouts of America who’s taught snake recognition for more than 50 years, said lack of resources and severe heat is driving the increase in snake and human interactions.

“Snakes are going to where their food and water sources are, and with the rain, or lack thereof here within the last several months, they are now moving to places they can find food and water,” he said. “Right now, that’s people watering their yards, gardens, the edge of their property, and you bring them in closer proximity of each other, now you have a greater chance of interaction between snake and human.”

According to research from the NCPC and Atrium Health conducted between 2014 and 2018, most snake bites happen when you’re at home.

In their data, which studied more than 2,700 snake bites, NCPC found that 25% of the bites happened when people were gardening, and 40% while people were walking.

Snakes are also more active at dawn and dusk, when a snake bit Jocelyn Mark’s daughter, Jacie, in 2022.

“It was quite scary. She was going outside to see a sunset with her dad. She was coming back into the garage and taking her shoes off,” she said. “She said it felt like a stick came and whacked her .. she looked down and it was a copperhead.”

Her daughter received antivenom and morphine, and spent 15 hours at WakeMed hospital.

Fedorchak said copperheads are the most common venomous snake bite in North Carolina, followed by cottonmouths.

Raleigh resident Cooper Wood said he is concerned about snakes when he takes walks nearly every day at Lake Johnson, adding he’s had copperhead sightings at his job as well.

“[It] doesn’t make me afraid, just more cautious,” he said. “They’re more scared of me than I am of them.”

How to look out for snakes

Fedorchak provided several tips on what residents can do if they think they’re near snakes.

“Be aware of your surroundings. These snakes are most active at sunset because that’s when prey becomes active,” he said. “And scuff your feet, it puts out a vibration to alert you are there.”

He also said if you can see 2-to-3 feet around you, don’t walk around, and if you do get bit, he said to treat every snake bite like it’s venomous.

“Take a marker and circle the bite,” he said. “What they will look for is if there is swelling [and] is there a possible envenomation.”

You can read our full guide on dealing with snakes in your yard in a safe and humane way here.