In the southeast, the state that gets
the most snake bites each year is, unfortunately, North Carolina. The
most common is from the copperhead snake. Often penetrating deep into
the muscle and bone tissue, its venom usually causes nausea, swelling
and severe pain.
How to Identify Them
Copperhead snakes are typically dark
brown and light pink, with a copper head and a sulfur yellow tail.
Though they are less active in the summer, smaller ones can still be
resting in and around homes during the day. Some of the places they like
to hide are in and around:
- Porches
- Gardens
- Cars
Because they can be hard to spot, their
slight rustling sounds can invite pets and children to look around for
them, putting them at risk for getting bit.
Tips
If you have any vegetative mulch in your
yard, you may want to consider replacing it with gravel mulch. You also
want to use caution when lifting logs and boards where they could be
hiding. In fact, it’s good to wear thick pants and gloves when working
in your yard.
There are a number of snake repellents
available that will keep some of them out. Unfortunately, they don’t
work well with copperhead snakes, if at all.
When it comes to these critters, do
everything in your power to avoid them, and call a service to remove
them. To find a company that provides snake relocation in Raleigh, take a
look at this website.
