Latest news with #snakebites
Yahoo
2 days ago
- 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
CBS News
12-05-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Spring heat brings North Texas snakes out of hibernation; wildlife experts warn of increased encounters
Warmer weather in North Texas means more encounters with snakes, which means companies like Dallas Fort Worth Wildlife Control are busy. "Definitely this time of year, you got to really keep your eye out, they're coming out of hibernation, therefore they're extremely hungry and they're on the move," said Randall Kennedy, the owner of Dallas Fort Worth Wildlife Control. "Anywhere you're storing brush, having brush piles, you don't want to let it sit too long, because the snakes, they can get under here." Kennedy said during the spring and summer, they receive about 3-4 snake calls per day. Although not all snakes they encounter are venomous, some can be. Last week, he was called out to a home in Colleyville. "He went into the landscape area after a football and he either stepped or way got too close to the little copperhead and it got him on the foot," Kennedy said. North Texas is home to three species of pit vipers, including copperheads, cottonmouths, and rattlesnakes. Last year, Cook Children's Medical Center saw 30 snake bite incidents. This year so far, the hospital has already responded to two incidents, and the number is likely to go up. "So, we typically see at least a few a month throughout the spring and throughout the summer, most of these are pretty mild bites. Some of them are obviously more severe, requiring antivenom," said Dr. Taylor Louden, with Cook Children's Emergency Department. Louden said, if bitten by a snake, you should not touch the snake, do not apply ice, do not attempt to drain the wound or suck out the venom, but you should try to immobilize the affected area and keep it below your heart. "Unfortunately, we have had a few deaths from snake bites, especially if the venom enters a large artery or blood vessel and can spread systemically and cause respiratory issues," Louden said. "It can cause neurologic issues, and so we worry that if you delay care that it could progress." As temperatures rise, Kennedy said it's important to be mindful of your landscape and avoid high grassy and rocky areas. "Definitely going into areas like this, try not to, try to wear some really thick boots, thick socks, if you got to clean areas like this up," he said. "Just be mindful. Think if you were a snake, where would you like to hide, where would you like to hang out, and then try to eliminate those areas in the yard."
The Guardian
08-05-2025
- Science
- The Guardian
Surviving 200 snake bites, decoding ancient scrolls and the countries ‘flourishing'
Science correspondent Hannah Devlin joins Ian Sample to discuss three intriguing science stories from the week, from a global study that puts the UK third from bottom when it comes to flourishing, to a man who intentionally suffered more than 200 snake bites in the quest to find a universal antivenom and a breakthrough in the quest to understand the contents of the charred Herculaneum scrolls buried when Mount Vesuvius erupted
