They’re on the side of the road; they’re in people’s back yards; and sometimes they’re inside houses.  It’s that time of the year again, the time for the snakes to come out of hiding and on the move. 

Some of the ones on the move are the Copperheads, one of the venomous snakes that tends to strike when threatened.  Other snakes that we need be aware of are the Timber Rattlesnakes and the Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake.  These are the venomous ones that are in and around people’s houses.  To get a good idea of these snakes and how they look, visit the North Carolina Zoo Streamside exhibit and see them firsthand on exhibit. Eighty percent of the snakes at Streamside were collected in North Carolina.  The Cottonmouth has been off exhibit for awhile having blood drawn, but now it is back on exhibit ready for the public eye.  Three Pygmy Rattlesnakes not on display at the moment are in the breeding process.

To avoid one of these wiggly critters, here are a few easy ways to stay clear of them.  The first way is to get mowing.  Mowing the lawn and keeping it short and trimmed prevents snakes from finding a resting place in the grass.  Next is to clean up.  Rock piles, barns, and storage buildings are great hiding places for snakes, so keeping these neat and tidy will reduce the relocation of the long reptile.  Another way is to shine a light.  Most snake bites happen at night when someone walks into a snake nest.  Keeping a flashlight on hand at night will reduce the chance for someone to walk into a nest and get bitten.  And last, wear closed toe shoes.  If a snake does strike, then it won’t penetrate the skin and maybe cause an infection.  Follow these steps and be less likely to suffer from a snake bite.