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I live in the county on a few acres of land and have done so for over 10 years. I have chickens, and because of the eggs, attracts snakes. There are a few rules to follow to keep snakes under control. The main one being to keep the grass cut. If you have tall grass you will have snakes. Keep the hiding places minimal. If you see black snakes, leave them alone. Black snakes keep the mice and poisonous snakes under control. Only had to kill one black snake and that is because it was stealing my chicken eggs. Then I secured my coop a little better and checked for the eggs more frequently. That does not mean I see black snakes slithering all around. I hardly ever see them, but I know they are out there because I don't have any mice and I occasionally see the discarded skin when they shed.
Now with that said the popular things to do cheaply here are to go to the rivers with your family. Unfortunately everything else costs a fortune to do. There are dangerous snakes by the rivers. In the trees and on the banks. I went one time to the Eno river and was having a fantastic time when someone pointed out a snake in the tree. I damnnear broke my neck getting out of dodge. Never to return. So stay away from the river banks and lakes.
I think if you read a little about sensible ways to avoid a bite, it will set your mind at ease.
If you don't live out in the woods, the odds you'll see one isn't huge, the odds you'll see one up close and personal is less, the odds you'll be bitten is even less, the odds you'll die/be maimed by not getting medical treatment in time is even smaller.
But at the end of the day, if you think you're always subconsciously afraid even if your conscious understands you're not really in danger.... you're not going to be not enjoying your backyard, then best not to move here.
I saw more snakes in MA than I do here. Granted they weren't poisonous, but I think I've seen maybe two snakes here in over two years. Neither were copperheads.
As I mentioned on the other thread your chances of getting struck by lightning and dying in NC are much higher than the chances of you getting bitten by a snake and dying. It just really doesn't happen very much at all. Now you can get bit and it hurts and you go to the hospital and they fix you up, but you don't die. People do get struck by lightning in NC just about every year.
You're in FAR more danger just getting in your car and taking a drive anywhere in the US.
MOST people don't see snakes. If you spend a lot of time outside and in nature and know where to look for them you can spot plenty, but they like to keep hidden and they don't want to see you. Really, you're in more danger from ticks who do want to bite you than you are from a snake that wants to avoid you.
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