Read These 7 Stories About Copperhead Snakes In North Carolina
(The News & Observer) — North Carolina’s copperhead snakes are active much of the year, with experts advising residents to watch for their distinctive hourglass markings and yellow-tipped tails on juveniles. Bites often happen when people reach into dense ground cover or walk barefoot, so wearing boots and gloves is a smart precaution, especially in yards or on trails.
Snake repellents and home remedies like mothballs do not deter these snakes — instead, keeping yards tidy and avoiding piles of wood or brush reduces risk.
In the event of a bite, hospital visits can be costly and painful, but not all bites require antivenom, as shown in recent stories of bite victims with a range of medical treatments.
NO. 1: HOW DO YOU TREAT A COPPERHEAD SNAKE BITE? DUKE AND WAKEMED DOCTORS WALK US THROUGH Always seek medical treatment, but antivenom is not always necessary, doctors say. Here’s why. | Published May 8, 2023 | Read Full Story by Kimberly Cataudella
NO. 2: I CAME FACE-TO-FACE WITH A COPPERHEAD, SO I CALLED A SNAKE CATCHER. HERE’S WHAT HAPPENED I’ve written more than a dozen stories about copperheads, but this was my first up-close-and-personal encounter. (Tip: cussing the snake out doesn’t help.) | Published September 25, 2023 | Read Full Story by Brooke Cain
NO. 3: WHERE DO COPPERHEAD SNAKES GO WHEN THE WEATHER TURNS COOL IN NC? WE ASKED THE EXPERTS Snakes are ectothermic, meaning they are influenced by the temperatures around them. | Published October 11, 2023 | Read Full Story by Kimberly Cataudella
NO. 4: DO SNAKE REPELLENTS WORK? CAN A DEAD SNAKE BITE YOU? FACT-CHECKING 15 NC SNAKE BELIEFS We fact checked 15 common beliefs about snakes, including several about copperhead behavior. | Published May 16, 2024 | Read Full Story by Kimberly Cataudella Tutuska
NO. 5: COPPERHEAD BITE STORIES: WE TALKED TO 3 RECENT BITE VICTIMS ABOUT THEIR NC EXPERIENCES What’s it like to be bitten by a copperhead? We talked to doctors and bite victims. | Published June 12, 2024 | Read Full Story by Kimberly Cataudella Tutuska
NO. 6: 9 STORIES TO HELP YOU (AND YOUR PETS) STAY SAFE DURING NC COPPERHEAD SEASON Stories from past North Carolina copperhead seasons to help prepare for living alongside the slithery creatures. | Published September 23, 2024 | Read Full Story
NO. 7: NORTH CAROLINA IS HOME TO 6 VENOMOUS SNAKES. HERE’S WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE We may be more likely to see snakes this time of year, as the weather warms. Use this information to make encounters less scary. | Published March 13, 2025 | Read Full Story by Renee Umsted