Nearly 600 venomous snakebites have already been reported in North Carolina in 2026, and the danger does not end with the bite itself: venom can quickly damage tissue, and treatment costs can climb toward $100,000.
Here's what to know
Through Aug. 12, 2026, North Carolina Poison Control had counted 595 human snakebite exposures, according to WRAL.
The year-to-year totals have been fairly consistent. By July 20, the state had recorded 478 cases in 2026, compared with 477 by the same point in 2025 and 474 in 2024.
North Carolina already leads the nation in venomous snakebites on a per-capita basis.
In June, Shelly Leslie, a former Capitol Broadcasting Company employee, said she was bitten by a copperhead and later received a $91,000 bill.
"Felt like my leg was on fire," Leslie said. "It was like hot, hot fire traveling up my leg."
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Speed matters after a bite. Citing Kaiser Permanente, WRAL reported that antivenom is generally needed as soon as possible — often within four to six hours — because venom can keep harming tissue and interfere with blood clotting.
More background
Treatment can be expensive.
Part of the sticker shock comes from the drug itself. A WakeMed spokesperson told WRAL that a vial of CroFab antivenom costs about $11,000 to $14,000, and standard cases often use four to six vials. UNC Health told WRAL that charges in a standard snakebite case may run roughly $46,000 to $78,000.
According to Dr. Benjamin German, a WakeMed emergency medicine physician known as the "Venom Doc," the price is driven in part by how rarely the medication is needed.
"Antivenom is — it's actually considered an orphan drug, meaning that it is not used very frequently," he said.
Delaying care can lead to lasting consequences. German told WRAL, "The big risk is that you may have long-term disability involving an extremity. In most cases, that is going to get a lot better with time. But you know, with antivenom, that time to recovery can be decreased."
What can be done?
Seek medical attention immediately and do not try to wait it out.
Experts recommend calling for help as soon as possible, safely leaving the area, and getting to emergency care right away.
German also listed several things people should avoid after a bite: don't use a snakebite kit, apply a tourniquet, cut the wound, use suction, put ice or heat on it, apply substances, drink alcohol, or try to catch or kill the snake.
If possible, gently wash the bite. For pain, acetaminophen is considered okay until medical care is available, while other analgesics should be avoided for the time being.
Encounters may remain common in North Carolina, especially in warmer months and in places where people and wildlife regularly cross paths, so getting treatment quickly and avoiding outdated first-aid myths can make a major difference.
For anyone bitten by a venomous snake, German said, "One of the analogies I like to use is, you know, let's say your kitchen catches on fire in your house, right? You want to put that fire out quickly, right? You don't want it to spread to the whole house, so you know essentially the antivenom is putting out the fire and keeping it from spreading."
Where can I learn more?
North Carolina's high bite totals are part of a much larger trend. Warmer temperatures and expanding overlap between people and wildlife are raising the odds of dangerous encounters in many places, and these articles look beyond ER visits and medical bills to the shifts making snakebites a growing concern.
• Worldwide, climate shifts could leave billions facing a rising snakebite threat as habitats expand.
• As global temperatures climb, scientists forecast mass spread of venomous snakes into newly suitable regions.
• In India, rising temperatures are fueling a looming public health crisis tied to snakebites.
• In Dhaka, Bangladesh, venomous reptiles now sneak into human settlements more often as cities grow.
• In Karnataka, India, development and habitat stress have worsened the problem of human-wildlife conflicts.
That broader context helps explain why prevention and preparedness matter as much as fast treatment. As snake ranges shift and encounters become more common, it also helps make sense of why North Carolina continues to see so many emergencies.
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