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How to avoid copperheads in North Carolina - and what to do if you can’t

Stories by North Carolina journalists, with AI summarization

This collection of stories explores copperhead snakes in North Carolina, with a focus on safety, treatment, and awareness.

The articles break down how to avoid copperhead bites in your yard and what happens when a dog is bitten while exploring piles of leaves or brush. They also describe copperhead features, such as the Hershey's Kiss-shaped pattern and the yellow-tipped tail on juveniles.

You will also find guides on what antivenom treatment costs at hospitals like UNC Health and WakeMed, advice from veterinarians on pet care after a copperhead bite, and practical tips for keeping copperheads out of your yard. Additional coverage highlights the risk of snake-related power outages and how snakes brumate in winter months, as well as the importance of identifying all local venomous snakes.

Read the stories below.

NO. 1: COPPERHEAD BITES MAY REQUIRE ANTIVENOM. HERE’S HOW MUCH IT MIGHT COST IN NC IN 2024

Here’s what UNC Health, Duke Health and WakeMed charge for antivenom, plus insurance coverage and discounts available. | Published June 12, 2024 | Read Full Story by Kimberly Cataudella Tutuska

Juvenile Black Rat snake.

NO. 2: CAN NC SNAKES CLIMB FENCES OR UP THE SIDE OF A HOUSE? SOME CAN. EXPERTS EXPLAIN

There are 38 species of snakes in NC, and a couple of them are expert climbers. | Published June 6, 2024 | Read Full Story by Renee Umsted

Copperheads bites are the most common venomous snake bite in the Carolinas. By The Sun News

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

Copperheads are among the most commonly spotted South Carolina snakes in the spring, according to pest control expert Todd Metz. By Lauren Witte

NO. 4: WHERE DO COPPERHEAD SNAKES GO WHEN IT GETS COLD IN NC? WE ASKED THE EXPERTS

Snakes are ectothermic, meaning they are influenced by the temperatures around them. | Published December 4, 2024 | Read Full Story by Kimberly Cataudella Tutuska

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

NO. 5: 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

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

NO. 6: 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. 7: A COPPERHEAD BIT YOUR DOG? WHAT NC VETERINARIANS SAY YOU SHOULD DO

Humans know to leave snakes alone if we see them. Dogs don’t. In case a copperhead strikes your furry friend, keep these tips in mind. | Published April 11, 2025 | Read Full Story by Renee Umsted Brooke Cain

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. 8: HOW MUCH DOES ANTIVENOM COST? YOU MAY NEED IT TO TREAT A COPPERHEAD BITE IN NC

Antivenom is not always necessary, but the price may give you sticker shock. | Published April 15, 2025 | Read Full Story by Renee Umsted

A Eastern King Snake By Corey Lowenstein

NO. 9: 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

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. 10: 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

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. 11: HOW DO YOU TREAT A COPPERHEAD SNAKE BITE? UNC & DUKE DOCTORS EXPLAIN WHAT TO DO

While copperhead bites rarely kill humans, doctors still recommend seeking medical care. | Published June 4, 2025 | Read Full Story by Renee Umsted

Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake

NO. 12: WHAT TO DO IF A RATTLESNAKE BITES YOU WHILE YOU DON’T HAVE CELL SERVICE IN NC

There are three rattlesnake species in North Carolina. | Published June 2, 2025 | Read Full Story by Evan Moore

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.