9 stories to help you (and your pets) stay safe during NC copperhead season
During past copperhead seasons, North Carolina residents garnered valuable insights on snake safety and precautions. Major themes emphasized the importance of yard maintenance to reduce snake habitats, recognizing snake hiding spots, and understanding bite risks, particularly with copperheads.
Expert advice from wildlife biologists included avoiding areas with tall grass and debris, taking precautions during the day and night, and calmly dealing with snake encounters without attempting to handle or kill them. Additionally, the articles shared personal snake bite stories and treatment experiences, highlighting the significance of seeking immediate medical attention -- and costs.
The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories below were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.
NO. 1: STAY SAFE IN YOUR NC BACKYARD: KEEP COPPERHEADS & OTHER SNAKES OUT WITH THESE EXPERT TIPS
Here’s what a wildlife biologist says you should do in your backyard to deter snakes (and nudge them out when you see one). | Published May 9, 2024 | Read Full Story by Kimberly Cataudella Tutuska
NO. 2: NC’S BABY COPPERHEAD SEASON IS HERE, SO YOU MIGHT SEE SOME MORE SNAKES. WHAT TO KNOW
Newborn copperheads are starting to make their debut. Here’s what to know about the populous baby snakes. | Published September 4, 2024 | Read Full Story by Evan Moore
NO. 3: 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. 4: COPPERHEADS IN RALEIGH IN JANUARY? LOOKS LIKE IT. LOCAL SNAKE EXPERT EXPLAINS WHY.
According to NextDoor posts, Raleigh copperheads have been doing a little January sunbathing over the past week. | Published January 10, 2023 | Read Full Story by Kimberly Cataudella
NO. 5: IT’S COPPERHEAD SEASON IN NC. HERE’S WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE COMMON VENOMOUS SNAKE.
We usually start talking about copperheads in the summer, but they already are out and about. How to identify and avoid them. | Published April 20, 2023 | Read Full Story by Brooke Cain
NO. 6: WHY COPPERHEAD SNAKES LIKE COMING ONTO OUR FRONT PORCHES — AND HOW TO KEEP THEM AWAY
Copperheads are NC’s most common venomous snake, and sometimes they come a little too close to our front doors. | Published July 18, 2023 | Read Full Story by Kimberly Cataudella
NO. 7: 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. 8: YOUR DOG WAS BITTEN BY A COPPERHEAD? ADVICE FROM AN NC STATE VETERINARIAN.
It seems everyone’s an expert on snakes and snakebites, but we consulted a veterinarian with 30 years experience. Here’s what he said. | Published June 8, 2022 | Read Full Story by Brooke Cain
NO. 9: 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
This report was produced with the help of AI tools, which summarized previous stories reported and written by McClatchy journalists. It was edited by journalists in our News division.
This story was originally published September 23, 2024 at 4:49 PM with the headline "9 stories to help you (and your pets) stay safe during NC copperhead season."