02/16/2026
North Carolina leads the nation in snakebite rates, but timber rattlesnakes account for only a small fraction of these incidents.
While the state reports roughly 500 to 800 venomous snakebites annually, over 90% are caused by copperheads. Specific yearly data for timber rattlesnakes (also known as canebrake rattlesnakes) is not typically broken down into a precise public count, but they are significantly less common than copperheads and generally avoid human contact.
Key Statistics
Copperhead dominance: These snakes are responsible for approximately 10 times more bites than all other venomous species in NC combined.
Total bites: NC Poison Control handles over 500 calls per year regarding snakebites, and recent trends show numbers can peak higher during warm years.
Fatalities: Snakebite deaths are extremely rare in North Carolina; the state has averaged fewer than one death per decade over the last 50 years.
