Snake activity is on the rise across central North Carolina — and hospitals are feeling the bite. Emergency departments at WakeMed have reported a noticeable uptick in snake bite cases this month, including nine patients since June 1 and six in just a recent three-day span. If the trend holds, July could mirror last year’s spike in cases.

Talena Chavis of Cary, the owner of NC Snake Catcher and a snake expert with nearly 30 years of experience, joined Jeff Hamlin to talk about what’s driving the increase in snake encounters and how to stay safe.