Joe Bronstein frequents the trails around Lake Johnson in Raleigh. While he enjoys talking with fellow hikers, there are other creatures he's wary of this time of year.
"I'm definitely on the lookout for them," Bronstein said.
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Biologists at the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission say as the temperature increase, so do the amount of snakes near trails and gardens.
"When it's warm enough outside, they wake up and become active and that's in temperatures just like we have now," said Wildlife Extension Biologist Falyn Owens. "Any time the temperatures are over 60 degrees, usually, for more than a few days, the snakes are going to be active."
Record-high temperatures combined with an increase in people visiting parks and on greenways makes for the possibility of more snake sightings, Owens said.
"When snakes are active and when people are outside, moving around, gardening in snake habitat, there's a possibility a person could come in close enough contact with a snake that it may have to defend itself," Owens said
Despite North Carolina's diversity in snake species, Owens notes that native snakes do not attack unless to defend themselves. In the Triangle, there's one type of venomous snake seen more others.
"In an area like Raleigh, really, the copperhead is the only venomous species people are likely to come across," Owens said. "All the other snake species people are going to find are going to be nonvenomous and harmless to humans."
Pictures of snake sightings have been posted online in recent. Last year, NC Wildlife reported roughly 90% of the state’s venomous snakebites are caused by copperheads.
The sightings are leaving people on alert. Bronstein, who recently moved to the Triangle from Arizona, says his apartment complex sent out a message for residents to be vigilant.
"Some people walking their dogs around the property had seen some copperhead snakes," Bronstein said. "At first, I was thinking I didn't know there were snakes in North Carolina."
Owens said there is no "snake season" as snakes can appear any time during the year as long as temperatures are prime. As the summer approaches, Owens encourages people to be mindful of where they and their pets step while out walking.