Latest news with #copperheads
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Triangle hospitals are seeing an increase in snake bite cases this year
Extreme heat has plagued the Triangle for several days already this year. And as temperatures have risen, local emergency departments have reported an increase in visits from snake bite patients. Snakes become more active during spring and summer months, said Dr. Ben German, an emergency department physician at WakeMed. Humans do, too, and that's one of the reasons why more snake bites occur during warmer times of year. On really hot days, though, snakes become more nocturnal, and people spend time outdoors later in the afternoons and evening. 'Around dusk seems to be the prime time for snake bites as we get into this time of year, because again, the snakes and people are more active together, and it's harder to see them,' German said. Some of these bites may be attributed to copperheads. The brown, Hershey's Kiss-shaped patterned snakes are the most common venomous snakes Triangle residents are likely to come across, and are one of just a handful of venomous snakes that live in North Carolina. Copperhead bites are rarely fatal for humans, but they may need to be treated with antivenom. The News & Observer asked WakeMed, UNC Health and Duke Health about how many patients with snake bites have been treated at their emergency departments so far this year. So far this year, WakeMed has treated slightly more snake bite cases than the same period last year. ▪ From Jan. 1-July 6, WakeMed saw 59 patients with snake bites. Of those, 33 received antivenom. ▪ Over the same period in 2024, 55 people came to WakeMed Emergency Departments with a snake bite, and 31 of them were treated with antivenom. German said snake bite cases have generally increased yearly since he began working at WakeMed in 2006, but he attributed that to an increase in the number of people moving to the area. UNC Health emergency departments have treated 112 people for snake bites so far this year. The highest number of snake bite patients visited the facilities in May and June — 39 and 45, respectively. In some of these cases, copperheads were specifically named in the diagnosis. Compared to last year, UNC Health Emergency Departments have treated more patients with snake bites so far this year. ▪ From January 2024 through early July 2024, UNC Health Emergency Departments saw 90 snake bite patients, including 45 in July. ▪ Across emergency departments, UNC Health treated at least one person with a snake bite each month in 2024. In five months — May through September — UNC Health Emergency Departments saw at least 20 people with snake bites, system-wide. And during fall and winter months, fewer patients visited emergency departments with snake bites. Duke Health hospitals typically see more than 100 patients with snake bites each year, Duke Health said in an emailed statement Thursday, July 10. And the highest number of monthly cases usually falls during July. So far this season, Duke Health has treated 33 patients with snake bites at emergency departments at three facilities — Duke University Hospital, Duke Regional Hospital and Duke Raleigh Hospital. Of those 33 cases, 11 sought treatment at Duke Health emergency departments since Tuesday, June 17. German, the WakeMed emergency physician, recommended three tips to avoid snake bites during this time of year: ▪ Wear good shoes outside. Sneakers are better than sandals, but leather shoes that cover above the ankle will work best to protect against bites to feet and lower legs. ▪ Be aware of your surroundings. Don't reach under objects or into spaces that aren't visible. Be careful when picking up debris, especially sticks, branches and mulch, which hide venomous copperheads well. ▪ If you're walking, taking out the trash or are outside for another reason later in the day or early in the morning, bring a flashlight. Have a question about your community you'd like answered? Or maybe a tip or story idea you'd like to share? The service journalism teams at The News & Observer and The Charlotte Observer want to hear from you. If you have a question about the Charlotte area, send The Charlotte Observer team a question by submitting questions to this form. If you have a question about Raleigh or a Triangle area community, send The News & Observer team a question by submitting questions to this form. Do snake repellents keep snakes out of your NC yard? What experts say Snake in a drive-thru? Boa found coiled under window of Triangle McDonald's
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Yahoo
Top 5 stories from the Shreveport Times this week: Jimmy Swaggart news and copperheads
It has been a busy week in the news cycle for the Shreveport-Bossier area. If you need a refresher on what you missed, here are the top five stories from the Shreveport Times. If parents are unable to watch their children during summer break, they may be in search of daycares, babysitters or other forms of childcare. What if these childcare options are scarce? Can you leave children at home alone while they're on summer break? There is no federal age minimum for when kids can be left at home alone, however, a few states have established a legal age, while others have not. Check out Louisiana. During summer months, snakes become more active, as they come out to bask in the sun, find food and seek cool areas in order to avoid overheating. This means that copperheads, a venomous species of pit viper that's native to North America, are more active during this time of year. These snakes can be found in Louisiana across a wide range of habitats and may bite if they feel provoked. Louisiana Evangelist Jimmy Swaggart is clinging to life in a Baton Rouge hospital following a heart attack he suffered Sunday, his family said. Swaggart, 90, has led Jimmy Swaggart Ministries for decades with an international outreach headquartered in Baton Rouge. The Times obtained food safety inspection information for the week of May 25-31, 2025, from the Louisiana Department of Health. The top three addresses with the most critical violations in Caddo Parish are listed, along with an explanation of the finding. All restaurants on the list had at least three critical violations. Check out the restaurants with critical violations. If you prefer to listen to music or other kinds of media while driving, and you find that your car's stereo isn't working, you may consider popping in earbuds or putting on headphones. In Louisiana, it is illegal to drive while wearing headphones. More specifically. Check out why it is illegal. More: Top 5 stories from the Shreveport Times this week: Boardwalk closures and summer temperatures This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Top 5 stories from the Shreveport Times this week: Jimmy Swaggart news and copperheads
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Flooding brings more copperheads to Cowley County
WINFIELD, Kan. (KSNW) – Recent flooding is driving some reptiles out of their usual habitats, leading to more snake sightings in parts of Cowley County, including Winfield. Residents are reporting an uptick in venomous snakes—especially copperheads, which are already relatively common in the area. Kim Befort, who lives in Arkansas City, says the number of copperheads she's seen this year is unusual. 'I've never seen this many copperheads since weve lived here for 25 years,' Befort said. 'We like to take evening gator rides down the road south of us — anywhere on the average of four out of five nights we would see a copperhead snake in the middle of the road.' Charles Cope, a district wildlife biologist with the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, says the increase makes sense given recent weather conditions. 'Copperheads are in eastern third of state,' Cope said. 'The first thing we do is look at the weather.' Cope explains that heavy rain and flooding can push snakes out of their normal shelters. Woman, dog hurt in Oaklawn in drive-by shooting 'They'll go to burrows and places like that to get away, but when it floods, they can't go to those places, and so they move just like people do, to higher areas to avoid the floods,' Cope said. If your home sits on a higher elevation, you may see more snakes, and depending on whether their original habitat is still intact, they might stay. Befort says she's taking extra precautions this season, including wearing rain boots when stepping outside. 'Keeping yourself informed and educated about the snake,' Befort said. If you think you've spotted a venomous snake, Cope recommends contacting KDWP and sending a photo for identification. He notes many people often mistake harmless water snakes for copperheads. For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news by downloading our mobile app and signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track 3 Weather app by clicking here. To watch our shows live on our website, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
