Oh, for the love of God and all that is holy.

[Jamastiene]

We have an EXPLOSION of copperheads in North Carolina. Everybody's getting bitten. OMG, what am I going to do? I've already found a snake in the house. It wasn't a copperhead, but I'm sure they could get their big heads in here too. I'm already sleeping with the machete next to me. I need that garlic necklace. Anybody know where I can get some holy water? I already have a few crosses.

I'm :scared: Somebody rescue me. I normally don't freak over snakes, but copperheads are nasty little fuckers. They bite just because you walk past them. They bite for the hell of it. They are like the rat terriers of the snake world. Even rattlesnakes are less likely to bite just for the hell of it like copperheads do. zOMG, I need to be sedated.

[hobbit709]

1. Quit panicking

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/gaston/Pests/reptiles/copperhead.htm

From wiki
Venom

Although venomous, these snakes are generally non-aggressive and bites are almost never fatal. Copperhead venom has an estimated lethal dose of around 100mg, and tests on mice show its potency is among the lowest of all pit vipers, and slightly weaker than that of its close relative, the cottonmouth. The bite of a cottonmouth is more serious, however, as they have a much larger venom yield than a copperhead. Copperheads often employ a "warning bite" when stepped on or agitated and inject a relatively small amount of venom, if any at all. "Dry bites" involving no venom are particularly common with the copperhead, though all pit vipers are capable of a dry bite.

Bite symptoms include intense pain, tingling, throbbing, swelling, and severe nausea. Damage can occur to muscle and bone tissue, especially when the bite occurs in the outer extremities such as the hands and feet, areas in which there is not a large muscle mass to absorb the venom. A bite from any venomous snake should be taken very seriously and immediate medical attention sought, as allergic reaction and secondary infection are always possible.

The venom of the Southern copperhead has been found to hold a protein called "Contortrostatin" that halts the growth of cancer cells and also stops the migration of the tumors to other sites. It will probably be ten or more years before contortrostatin is used in practical treatment but it has shown to be a novel anti-cancer drug in the lab. "Specialized Venoms" of Seneca South Carolina milks copperheads for their venom, which is used in research labs through out the U S A.

[Jamastiene]

4. I'm suffering from intense pain, tingling, throbbing, swelling, and severe nausea

just from worrying about them. :scared:

[LostinVA]

2. I got bite by a copperhead when I was trailrunning -- in VA

I'm still alive. Although I now hate Dr. Pepper for some reason.

[Jamastiene]

3. zOMG, what would I drink? Not that green slimy stuff they

call tap water here in my city, I hope. That stuff is awful. :puke:

I worry more about my cats than me. I would have to face off with the thing, but in case my cats change their mind about snakes, I'm worried about them. I hope they stay away.

[LostinVA]

5. I would worry about the kitties, too

Can you afford to have someone come out and "snakeproof" the place? They really can do that, but it might cost $200 or so around there.

[Jamastiene]

7. I wish I could afford it.

Does lye really work? I mean, if they are under the house in the insulation and I put lye around the house (like my aunt says to do), won't that just make them come inside more (because they cannot go over the lye)?

I've never been more lost for a way to deal with something than I am this. It's just that it sort of messes with my sense of security that I associate with "home." If the rat snake can come in, what else can? It's that sort of thought that won't leave my head.

Plus, my aunt is not helping. She keeps scaring me for fun then laughing at me. :eyes:

[LostinVA]

12. No, it doesn't -- call the agricultural extension service and ask what to do

They are FREE.

[Jamastiene]

16. That's a good idea.

I don't know why I didn't think of it. Thanks. :)

[sammythecat]

22. I've lost 4 cats over the years.

They just never returned home. I live next to several acres of woods and, in addition to owls and foxes, I suspect copperheads might have had something to do with it.

[peekaloo]

6. Lots of rain here lately which resulted in lots of displaced snakes.

I even dreamed about snakes in the house last night.

Where's a snake whisperer when you need one? :-(

[Jamastiene]

8. Yes, we've had lots of rain for the last few days.

Did you hear about the little boy that got bitten in the park in Alamance County? :scared:

http://www.digtriad.com/news/local_state/article.aspx?storyid=123463

Then, there is this older story that is heartbreaking:
http://skinnymoose.com/moosedroppings/2008/05/30/north-carolina-woman-dies-from-rattlesnake-bite/

[peekaloo]

9. We have pygmy rattlers and water moccasins.

Local news had a teen that was bitten on the finger when he reached in some bushes (how appropriate, Bushes and snakes) for his b-ball. His fingers were blackened and swollen. :scared:

My neighbor swears that placing moth balls around the perimeter of your house will keep them away. :shrug:

[Jamastiene]

10. My aunt keeps swearing up and down that lye will work.

My step dad says Lowe's has something called either Snake B Gon or Snake Away or something like that. At the beginning of June, I'm going to have to do something for some peace of mind if nothing else.

[Glorfindel]

11. See if you can find a blacksnake to keep around the place

They prey on poisonous snakes. Of course, I'm afraid of them, too (blacksnakes, I mean), although I know they're perfectly harmless. I'm even scared by pictures of snakes. Plus, they'd probably devour your kitties with great enthusiasm. I never heard of using lye as a deterrent, but I have tried lime. It doesn't work. There are plenty of snakes here in south Mississippi.

[Jamastiene]

14. Lol, I'm trying to become snakeless, not bring in more.

I understand what you are saying though. I worry about my cats more than anything...and my aunt. Then again, my aunt has been traumatizing me after the fact by all these false alarm tricks she keeps playing on me. She laughs after I jump.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

13. Get a raptor. Or a pig.

Hawks and pigs eat snakes.

[Jamastiene]

15. We have hawks in the neighborhood.

I wonder if there are pot bellied pigs that don't get to be over 100 pounds. I have seen horror stories of people buying those as pets and they get to be a ton literally.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

17. I think even the small ones get pretty big.

Another thing that will help is if you keep your home and garden as rodent-free as possible. Mice, rats, and voles are staples in a snake's diet.

I've seen a number of copperheads around here. They never bothered me, though.

[SoxFan]

18. Hire a mongoose

[mnhtnbb]

19. Hubby killed one in our driveway last year. About 10 days later

I killed one right by the front door, which one of our cats confronted on his way to come in when I was calling him. There was a front porch (two steps up) and the snake turned around after I got the cat inside
and was headed under the porch. No way I was letting him get under there. I cut off his head with a
pointed shovel. Scared the bejesus out of me. Think my heart rate must have been 200. No need
for stairmaster that day!

I saw a lot of them last year, but have only seen one baby, smashed, in the road this year.

Several years ago our dog was bitten by a copperhead. It was a Saturday, and she wouldn't get up.
She was old, and I thought she'd had a stroke. Took her to the emergency vet; they felt the swelling
on her hind leg, shaved, and found the fang marks. Gave her a shot and some meds and she was ok.
Don't think the cat would have fared so well if he'd been bitten.

I agree. I don't like snakes--and copperheads scare the crap out of me. I read (after I killed
the one last year) that most people are bitten when trying to kill them. Better to leave them alone,
unless you think they're returning to a den (like under my porch) where they could later be a danger
to kids or small pets.

[DarkTirade]

20. One thing that might help a little... get those little sweeper things on the bottom of your doors.

I'm not sure what they're called, but they're usually either very stiff bristles or a sheet of rubber like a squeegee. They're mainly used to keep out bugs and save a few bucks on air conditioning, but it might help keep larger animals out too.

[AngryAmish]

21. I guess NC could use their own St. Patrick