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‘Possible Copperhead’ Snake Found In This North Carolina Classroom

An unexpected and unwelcome visitor showed up at school. A “possible copperhead’ snake was found in this North Carolina classroom. Thanks to the critter, students at a charter school in…

Snake Found Inside This North Carolina classroom
John Moore/Getty Images

An unexpected and unwelcome visitor showed up at school. A "possible copperhead' snake was found in this North Carolina classroom.

Thanks to the critter, students at a charter school in southwest Charlotte,  got to leave for the day on Thursday. According to a letter sent to parents at Unity Classical Charter school, there was a snake inside a classroom.

The school confirmed to Channel 9 in Charlotte that a teacher found the snake after coming back from recess.  School officials said in a statement “Out of an abundance of caution, our staff made the decision to send students home immediately until we were certain there was no longer a risk”.  No one was hurt. A 'possible copperhead' snake was found in this North Carolina classroom. Say what?

One authority from the school told the television station that the reptile was believed to be a copperhead snake.  And what's worse, the snake was not caught!  It is not absolutely certain what type of snake it is. The school goes on to say they are working with wildlife officials to find and remove the snake.  Wildlife officials say copperhead snakes are in abundance right now because they are chasing the seasonal cicadas.

Kids were to go back to school on Friday.  To learn more about this story get details from our source, WSOCTV right here.

North Carolina has Six Venomous Snakes On Our Ultimate Snake List

I don't like snakes but we have a lot of them in North Carolina. I hike a lot and I love being in the great outdoors. However, snakes give me so much anxiety. I absolutely despise them. The most unpleasant part of hiking in 2020 was probably the snakes. My thought was that since we were all stuck in quarantine the snakes would breed in peace and now there are more of them than ever.

There are more than 3,000 species of snake on the planet, with 600 of these being venomous. Living in North Carolina, we must know all there is to know about snakes. It is especially relevant if you plan on camping, hiking, or even heading to a local park. The reason being is that North Carolina is home to six venomous snakes. These snakes are featured on our snake list below.

Cottonmouth: Venomous Snake in North Carolina

Every year I see probably about ten of these lovely creatures. They make me jump out of my skin. This venomous snake is also called Water Moccasin. This is the most common venomous snake out of the six. It is found literally everywhere throughout North Carolina. The bites for these bad boys are he bites are pretty painful, but deaths from copperhead bites are extremely rare. You can see more on this snake here.

Cotton Mouth Snake

The Longest Snake in the World

This is a worthwhile one if you like snakes. The average length of a reticulated python is 20 feet. That's the length of two basketball hoops! These snakes are found in southeast Asia. The habitat preferences of these animals appear to depend on their location, but they enjoy rainforests, woodlands, and grasslands. You can see more on this snake here.

Reticulated Python

Eastern Coral Snake: Venomous Snake in North Carolina

Though I love the colors, I wouldn't get close to them! The Eastern Coral Snake is often referred to as the candy stick snake. It is normally the most misidentified snake found in North Carolina. In the southern Coastal Plain from North Carolina to Louisiana, including Florida, the eastern coral snake is scattered. Throughout their range, they can be found grazing in areas of scrub oak sandhills and pine Flatwoods that flood seasonally. You can’t legally kill the Eastern Coral Snake due to their endangered status. You can see more on this snake here.

Eastern Coral Snake

Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake: Venomous Snake in North Carolina

Just seeing photos of this snake gives me nightmares. Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake is the largest and perhaps the most dangerous species of rattlesnake in the world. The backs of these heavy-bodied pitvipers are covered with black diamond patterns outlined in dark diamonds. In North Carolina, diamondbacks are usually found in sandy pine Flatwoods in the southeastern Coastal Plain. You can’t legally kill the Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake due to their endangered status. You can see more on this snake here.

Eastern Diamond Back Rattlesnake

The Heaviest Snake in the World

Wow! The heaviest snake in the world is the green anaconda. They can reach up to 220 pounds and 16 feet in length. A native of South America, the green anaconda inhabits swamps, marshes, and streams. These snakes are nonvenomous. You can see more on this snake here.

Green Anaconda

Copperhead: Venomous Snake in North Carolina

Do you often see these? I sure do. Most North Carolinians know at least the name of the copperhead. Copperheads are typically between two and three feet long, with a fairly heavy body. North Carolina is home to the most common and widespread venomous snake, the copperhead. You can see more on this snake here.

Copperhead Snake

Pigmy Rattlesnake: Venomous Snake in North Carolina

They're kind of cute, aren't they? Pigmy Rattlesnakes are also venomous snakes in North Carolina. In the United States, pigmy rattlesnakes are the smallest species of rattlesnake. Snakes that live in this region usually have dull gray bodies with a row of dark spots running down the center of their backs. In North Carolina, pigmy rattlers are found in pine Flatwoods and scrub oak habitats in the southeastern Coastal Plain and the Sandhills. They have been found at Crowder’s Mountain State Park in Gaston County. You can see more on this snake here.

Pigmy Rattlesnake

Timber Rattlesnake: Venomous Snake in North Carolina

Rattlesnakes of this species are large and heavy-bodied, with dark bands or chevrons protruding from their bodies. They are most commonly found in mountains and coastal plains. One of the most impressive things about this snake is the fact that it can strike up to 1/3 to 1/2 of its body length. I am not a fan of this snake. You can see more on this snake here.

Timber Rattlesnake

What to Do When You Get A Snake Bite?

If you are bitten by a snake, follow these directions given by the Carolinas Poison Center:

    Catherine Lane is the morning show co-host and midday host on Country 1037 in Charlotte, North Carolina. She has been with the station for the past 24 years and is a recipient of the Academy of Country Music Major Market Personality of the Year award. Catherine has been on air in both radio and television in the Queen City for 38 years. As a content creator for Country 1037, Catherine writes blogs on local events and restaurants. She also writes about great travel spots and out of the way places in the Carolinas. Anything outdoors, travel, food, animals or the many country artists from the Carolinas.