North Carolina contractor bitten on both middle fingers by venomous snake while tearing out deck

During a deck demolition outside Raleigh, North Carolina, a contractor ended up in the hospital after receiving venomous snake bites on each of their middle fingers.

What happened?

The incident happened in Wakefield, North Carolina, while the contractor was tearing out an old deck, according to a Reddit post in r/WhatsThisSnake.

In the post, the original poster wondered if the serpent was a copperhead or timber rattlesnake.

Replies in the thread suggested the snake was likely a copperhead or a cottonmouth, which are both venomous pit vipers.

One person wrote, "No timber rattlesnakes in Raleigh. From the symptoms, this bite is likely from a Copperhead or Cottonmouth… Unfortunately [an] ID from the bite marks is not possible."

The OP responded, "I wish I knew what bit me. Whatever it was, it got [me] 2x and it hurt like hell."

Another commenter added, "Raleigh is notorious for copperheads. It should be the town mascot."

Why is this concerning?

Hidden spaces under aging decks can provide cool, shaded shelter for snakes, and demolition work can bring people into sudden contact with wildlife that had been staying out of sight. When people disturb neglected corners of a yard, they may unknowingly disrupt animals that have been using those spaces as cover.

In suburban areas, homes and wildlife habitats exist side by side. As the BBC noted in a piece about why wild animals attack humans, many attacks happen when animals are startled, cornered, or displaced. It's very likely that they aren't actively seeking out people or trying to purposefully ruin anyone's day.

It's important to take bites seriously like the OP of this post did because they can lead to big medical issues fast. A venomous bite, or two, can lead to a painful recovery and high hospital bills. Even if the bite somehow feels bearable, seeing a doctor for something like this could create relief or even save a life.

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