How to stay safe from snakes, pollen and wildfires in NC

Snakes, pollen, and wildfires are all safety concerns for North Carolinians during the summer. Venomous copperheads are common in central and eastern parts of the state, with copperhead bites sometimes requiring costly antivenom treatment. Wildlife experts recommend keeping yards clear of dense vegetation and debris to reduce snake encounters and suggest leaving snakes alone if you see them.

Wildfires have already burned more than 24,000 acres this year, so packing an evacuation kit and tracking fire maps are important steps for residents. Seasonal pollen counts are high in cities like Raleigh and Greensboro; taking precautions such as showering at night and keeping pets out of bedrooms can help allergy sufferers cope.

An eastern coral snake is rare in Georgia, but are extremely venomous.

NO. 1: 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

NO. 2: 4 NC CITIES AMONG WORST PLACES TO LIVE WITH POLLEN ALLERGIES, STUDY SAYS. WHY THEY’RE SO BAD

For many people with seasonal allergies, spring is a difficult time. It’s particularly hard in a few of our state’s cities. | Published March 19, 2025 | Read Full Story by Renee Umsted

Firefighters from across the state have gone to Western North Carolina to fight wildfires feeding on trees that were downed by the remnants of Hurricane Helene. Three large fires have been burning in Polk County.

NO. 3: IF YOU HAVE TO RUN FROM A WILDFIRE IN NC, HERE’S WHAT TO PACK IN YOUR EVACUATION KIT

If you live in the city, do you still need a wildfire kit? The answer is yes. We explain why. | Published March 26, 2025 | Read Full Story by Martha Quillin

A copperhead snake looks up at the Nature Museum in Charlotte, N.C., Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2010. By AP Photo/Chuck Burton

NO. 4: NC’S COPPERHEAD SEASON IS HERE. WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE COMMON VENOMOUS SNAKE

Copperheads are the only venomous snake you’re likely to encounter in the Triangle and central NC. Here’s how to identify and avoid them. | Published April 7, 2025 | Read Full Story by Renee Umsted

Copperheads are the most common venomous snake in South Carolina. Local expert, Todd Metz, said he’s already started to see them in the Myrtle Beach area following the winter hibernation season. According to Metz, this year is not different in terms of the number of snakes he’s seen compared to previous years. By Janet Blackmon Morgan

NO. 5: COPPERHEADS IN NC CAN VARY IN COLOR. SEE WHAT THEY CAN LOOK LIKE

To identify a copperhead, you can’t just go by color alone. Here’s what gives some copperheads a different look. | Published May 2, 2025 | Read Full Story by Renee Umsted

The U.S. Forest Service is working to control the Black Swamp Fire within the Croatan National Forest in Jones County. The fire is burning in the peat-rich soil of the forest. It’s one of several fires burning on federal property that show up on the Forest Service’s interactive wildfire-tracking map.

NO. 6: SMOKE OR HAZE IN THE AIR? INTERACTIVE MAPS TRACK NC WILDFIRES IN BUSY FIRE SEASON

So far this year, more than 4,000 wildfires have burned more than 24,000 acres of woodlands in North Carolina. Here’s how to track them. | Published May 6, 2025 | Read Full Story by Martha Quillin

A Eastern King Snake By Corey Lowenstein

NO. 7: SNAKES ARE TO BLAME FOR 3 RECENT NC POWER OUTAGES, DUKE ENERGY SAYS

Thousands of Triangle customers lost power recently. Don’t blame it on the rain or trees. | Published May 12, 2025 | Read Full Story by Renee Umsted

NO. 8: CAN YOU KEEP COPPERHEADS OUT OF YOUR NC YARD? AN EXPERT RECOMMENDS THESE TIPS

To keep snakes out, you first need to know what brings them in. We have the details. | Published May 16, 2025 | Read Full Story by Renee Umsted Kimberly Cataudella Tutuska

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.