Good Snake or Bad Snake

Dont Let a Fear of Snakes Keep You Indoors

Many people have an aversion to or outright fear of snakes. There are almost 40 types of snakes that live in North Carolina, but according to the NC State University Cooperative Extension, only six are venomous. Copperheads and Canebreak rattlesnakes are found throughout the state, while the Cottonmouth or Water Moccasin is typically found in wetlands areas throughout the eastern half of the state. The Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake, Pygmy Rattlesnake, and Coral Snake (rare in NC) are found in the southeastern part of the state (east of Gaston County). Non venomous snakes are much more common. These include the black racer (shown here), black rat snake, and numerous others. Snakes are a natural part of the environment. They eat insects, frogs and lizards and help to keep the rodent population down. If you see a snake in your yard, leave it alone and it will likely go on its way. Non venomous snakes are not typically aggressive but will bite if cornered. Most of these snakes have small teeth and cannot bite through clothing. If you or your child is bitten, wash the wound well and coat it with hydrogen peroxide. If you are not sure if the snake is venomous, see a doctor. Most venomous snakes will hide when humans are near, only becoming aggressive if cornered. The Centers for Black Racer Disease Control and Prevention estimate that between 7,000-8,000 people are bitten by venomous snakes each year, and that five of those bitten die from the bite1. In comparison, they estimate that 90-100 die from reactions to insect bites 2. Research has shown that most bites occur when people accidentally step on the snakes or try to handle them. The be st advice from experts: watch for snakes when you are outdoors especially in wooded areas and give them a wide berth. If you are bitten, try to get a picture or description of the snake and head to the emergency room to get checked out. Greenscape Inc. was founded in 1979 and is headquartered in Holly Springs, NC, outside of Raleigh. Greenscapes Green Team consists of professional landscape architects, designers and horticulturists who specialize in residential and commercial landscape design/build, landscape management, and
1

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/snakes/ http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/insects/

landscape specia lty services including irrigation and landscape lighting. Under the Weed Man brand, Greenscape provides a full range of lawn care services customized for each property, including weed, insect and disease management, as well as aeration and seeding. Greenscape owns Weed Man franchises in the Triangle area and Wilmington, North Carolina. http://www.greenscapeinc.com.