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Charlotte neighbors worried about influx of copperhead snake bites

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Carla Witten told Channel 9 that a copperhead snake bit her cat, Izzi, twice years ago.

She pointed to the scars on her cat and said, "She has a scar underneath her neck. She was hit here and here."

Witten said she remembers it clearly, as well as the $800 vet bill.

It was not Witten's first encounter with snakes in the Stonehaven community and she said it won't be the last.

"It does happen here in this neighborhood in our backyard," said Witten.

There's been a recent influx in copperhead snake bites across Charlotte.

According to an online forum, a dog was bitten by a copperhead in the same neighborhood just a few days ago.

Witten's neighbor wrote, "While going in for a sniff the snake bit her on the snout."

The dog had to go to the emergency vet, but survived.

Earlier this month, there were reports that a girl was bitten but she was OK.

They go hand-in-hand with dozens and dozens of recent sightings.

Ryan Keevan, who has handled snakes for decades, said changes in the temperature are a big part of it. Keevan said, "Most of these North American snakes are preparing to go down for the winter. Right now, they are still active."

One of the reasons experts said that the snakes are coming out from the brush and into the open is to find warm places, including the cement ground after it's been warmed up by the sun.

"They seek out warm surfaces to help regulate their temperature. And the roadways and sidewalks and things like that, that retain heat," Keevan said.

The biggest point Keevan said he wants to stress is to leave snakes alone.

The Wittens and their neighbors said they're willing to do that as long as the snakes don't pose a threat.

"They're just living. They're not really doing anything wrong. We get into their territory more than anything," Keevan said.

The Poison Control Center released that since October 1, there have been five snake bites in Mecklenburg County. There have been 28 snake bite cases across the state, with four of them pediatric bites.

The Carolinas Poison center has seen 367 Copperhead bites,  6 Cottonmouth, and 6 Rattlesnake bites since January 1, 2017. There have been 222 Unknown Crotalids, including rattlesnakes, copperheads and cottonmouths since that date as well.

The Poison Control Center released the following statement:

"Not all snake bites require treatment which can be expensive. If bitten by a snake and not having difficulty breathing or chest pain, they should call the Poison Center at 1800-222-1222. Our website has more information especially relating to advice on how not to get bitten."