Venomous snake bites visitor to NC Zoo, sending them to medical center, officials say
A venomous copperhead snake bit a visitor to the North Carolina Zoo, prompting emergency crews to rush in, officials said.
The visitor then went to a medical center after being bitten by the creature Thursday, June 8, the wildlife center told McClatchy News in an emailed statement.
“We do not have any further information regarding their condition,” the zoo wrote.
Though the zoo didn’t share additional details with McClatchy News on June 13, WGHP reported that the person bitten was 5 years old. The incident happened in a children’s area, which temporarily closed to visitors, according to the news outlet.
Officials in their statement also didn’t say whether the copperhead had been in an enclosure or was out in the wild. The zoo has snakes in its Streamside Habitat but also has reported finding native wildlife on its property.
“If you happen upon a snake: please keep your distance and, if needed, flag down a zoo employee so we can safely relocate your new slithering friend,” the animal center wrote on Twitter in May.
Copperheads are found in the wild throughout North Carolina and are known for the “hourglass-shaped crossbands” on their bodies. “Copperheads account for probably over 90 percent of venomous snake bites” in the state, according to the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission.
The N.C. Zoo is in Asheboro, roughly 70 miles west of Raleigh.
What to know about snake bites
Venomous snakes bite more than 7,000 people each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“About 5 of those people die,” the CDC said. “The number of deaths would be much higher if people did not seek medical care.”
Rattlesnakes, copperheads, cottonmouths and coral snakes are all venomous snakes that live in the U.S.
If you see a snake, back away slowly and don’t touch it. Here’s what the CDC says you should do if a snake bites you:
Try to remember the color and shape of the snake. It could help with treating the bite.
Stay calm and still to slow down the spread of venom.
Seek medical care as soon as possible.
Apply first aid if you can’t get to the hospital quickly.
Wash the wound with warm, soapy water.
Cover the bite with a clean cloth or dressing.
Don’t slash the wound with a knife or try to suck out venom.
Don’t apply ice to the wound.
Real-time editor Bailey Aldridge helped contribute to the reporting for this story.
This story was originally published June 13, 2023 at 11:50 AM with the headline "Venomous snake bites visitor to NC Zoo, sending them to medical center, officials say."
