John Franklin: Valuable snakes

Regarding the May 13 news article “NCSU’s Avent bitten by snake, to miss trip”: Poisonous snakes inject venom in a bite only about 25 percent of the time and then only when they perceive what they’re biting to be prey.

The copperhead was frightened by the dog and then coach Elliott Avent, but it should not have been killed. It was just defending itself. Snakes are often reviled, but they are a valuable part of the natural environment.

The bite area will probably be sore for a few days but nothing more. The hospital most likely administered an antibiotic to counter any possible infection from a puncture of the skin.

This story was originally published May 18, 2016 at 5:14 PM with the headline "John Franklin: Valuable snakes."