7 stories clarify myths about North Carolina copperheads

North Carolina copperheads, our most common venomous snake, are often spotted searching for food like cicadas or rodents in yards and gardens. Experts say copperheads prefer hiding under vegetation, porches, or in piles of leaves and wood, so clearing these shelters is the best way to make your space less attractive to them. Removing food sources like spilled birdseed can also help, as rodents drawn to the area bring copperheads in.

Stories clarify common myths, such as baby copperhead bites not being more dangerous than adults, and that copperheads would rather avoid humans than bite. If you do see a snake, experts advise giving it space, not handling it, and calling professionals like NC Snake Catcher if needed, while always watching where you step, especially at night or in thick ground cover.

Copperheads are a venomous snake found in Ohio. By Chuck Liddy

NO. 1: 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

Juvenile copperhead. Note the yellow-tipped tail. By Jodie Owen

NO. 2: IT’S ‘BABY COPPERHEAD SEASON’ IN NC. HERE’S WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE JUVENILE SNAKES

Fact or fiction: Are baby copperhead bites more venomous than adult bites? Here’s what the experts say. | Published August 9, 2023 | Read Full Story by Kimberly Cataudella

Copperhead snake that was spotted on the patio of a townhouse in Raleigh, NC after being collected by Talena Chavis, owner of NC Snake Catcher. By Brooke Cain

NO. 3: I CAME FACE-TO-FACE WITH A COPPERHEAD, SO I CALLED A SNAKE CATCHER. HERE’S WHAT HAPPENED

I’ve written more than a dozen stories about copperheads, but this was my first up-close-and-personal encounter. (Tip: cussing the snake out doesn’t help.) | Published September 25, 2023 | Read Full Story by Brooke Cain

Mark Danaher an Ecologist with International Paper holds a glass lizard he found in the Bear Garden tract of 14,391 acres that The Nature Conservancy acquired in a deal with International Paper as part of an acquisition of 38,320 acres in eastern North Carolina. By Robert Willett

NO. 4: IS THAT A SNAKE OR ONE OF NC’S THREE LEGLESS LIZARDS? HERE’S HOW TO TELL

Glass (legless) lizards look remarkably snake-like. We talked to wildlife experts to find out how to tell the difference. | Published May 20, 2024 | Read Full Story by Renee Umsted

NO. 5: DO SNAKE REPELLENTS WORK? CAN A DEAD SNAKE BITE YOU? FACT-CHECKING 15 NC SNAKE BELIEFS

We fact checked 15 common beliefs about snakes, including several about copperhead behavior. | Published May 16, 2024 | Read Full Story by Kimberly Cataudella Tutuska

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

NO. 6: 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

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

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.