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If you see a pine snake or rattlesnake the NC Wildlife Commission wants to know

CHARLOTTE — As the weather gets warmer, more snakes will start to show up in yards, along trails and crossing roads.

If you see one, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission asks that you give it plenty of room and not kill it. And if you spot a pine snake or rattlesnake, to report it.

According to the commission, about 70% of snake bites occur when people try to kill or handle a snake. It warns that some snakes may become aggressive if agitated by a human or animal, but states most will leave people alone if they aren’t bothered and are provided an escape route.

“You can gently spray a snake with a garden hose to safely encourage it to leave your yard,” suggested Jeff Hall, a biologist with the wildlife commission.

Although snakes are an important part of the ecosystem and help control the rodent, slug and insect populations, some of the state’s 38 native snake species are in decline and are listed as threatened, such as the northern pine snake and three rattlesnakes – the timber, the pigmy and the Eastern diamondback.

People who see a pine snake in the wild are asked to send an email to pinesnake@ncwildlife.org. People who spot a rattler are asked to email rattlesnake@ncwildlife.org.

Your email should include a photo of the snake, the date and time you saw the snake and the location (GPS coordinates preferred).

If you need help identifying a snake, go to herpsofnc.org.

Residents are also encouraged to download the HerpMapper mobile app and document their observations electronically. The wildlife commission partners with the app to track amphibian and reptile species.

The commission also offers these tips for making your yard less hospitable for snakes:

  • Clean up clutter such as stick and rock piles.
  • Keep your lawn mowed.
  • Close gaps and holes in your siding and foundation.
  • Seal openings under doors, windows and around waterpipes.