It’s that time of year again for all things slithering. Remember to watch your step when working in the yard, walking, or out hiking. The snakes are out.Out of the 37 different species of snakes in North Carolina, only six are venomous, according to North Carolina Wildlife. VENOMOUS SNAKES IN NCVenomous snakes in North Carolina include the copperhead, cottonmouth, timber rattlesnake, eastern diamondback rattlesnake, pigmy rattlesnake, and the eastern coral snake. See if you can accurately identify all six snakes in the photo gallery at the bottom of this story. ►The copperhead is the most common and widespread venomous snake in North Carolina, according to state wildlife officials. We wanted to find out more about snakes and, in particular, two of the most common you could encounter, including the black rat snake and copperhead, to help keep you safe this summer. We went straight to the expert at the Greensboro Science Center to find out. We asked a ton of questions, including how the two get confused, what to do if you encounter them, and what to do if you get bitten. We asked them the following questions, and here are their answers. Q: What’s the major difference between a copperhead and a black snake?A: One of the big differences is that copperheads are venomous, whereas black rat snakes are non-venomous. Black rat snakes are black, whereas copperheads have a brown and tan color to them. They also have hourglass patterns on their backs, one where you can tell a difference. You’ll usually see them in the same areas, but if you see a black snake, it’s usually good. The copperheads have very good camouflage, so they tend to blend in with their environment a little bit better. Black rat snakes can also climb trees, so you may see them in trees. They do eat birds; they also eat mice and rats. But those are the two big differences, non-venomous versus venomous.►The copperheads are very good at camouflage.Q: Why are black rat snakes confused with copperheads?A: They are, especially when rat snakes are babies. When they hatch, they do have a pattern, so immediately, people think it’s a copperhead because of the pattern, but as they get older, they lose that pattern, and they become completely black. I'm not sure still why people confuse them when they're older because of stark differences, but I think usually when a lot of people see snakes, they automatically think of a copperhead or some sort of venomous, but they usually confuse them when they're smaller.►Black rat snake babies do have a pattern when they're born.Q: Are copperhead snakes good for the environment?A: They are. They do take care of pest populations. They’ll eat mice and rats, so they are good. I know people can tolerate living in the same area. If people do see them, just leave them alone, they're not going to mess with you. But they are good for the environment. Snakes are good.Q: Are black rat snakes good for the environment?A: Yes, they are. They also eat mice and rats, so they do keep the pest populations down. You’ll usually find them in barns, too, so that’s where a lot of those pests like to hang out, so yes, they are very good for the environment. Q: When should you be most concerned about copperhead snakes during the summer?A: So, copperheads do start to come out when it warms up like this. Their breeding season is through the summer, and then they will hatch in the late fall. So, you can see copperheads from now, even from March, up until early November. Fall is when you’re going to find juveniles, and then when it warms up like this, you're going to see more adults. I always like to tell people, especially here at the Science Center, "stay on the path" because they do hang off the path and blend in, so it's very hard to see them. But you can see them now.►Copperheads are out from March through November. Q: What should you do if you come across a copperhead snake?A: Just leave it alone. If you do feel comfortable shooing it off the pathway, you can. We have snake hooks here. I know not everybody carries a snake hook around every day, but a stick or something with a curved end to kind of just shoo it way. But just walk around it, it will just eventually leave. Q: What should you do if you come across a black rat snake?A: Same thing, just leave it alone. I've come across some across the road, and I've kind of helped it over, but I feel comfortable doing that. A lot of people don’t, so just leave it alone, it'll kind of go on its way, but admire it for a little bit. It’s pretty cool. Q: Should you kill a copperhead snake or a black snake?A: In my opinion, no. Like we said before, they are good for the environment, but I know, especially with people that have kids or pets, and if they come in contact with a copperhead, they usually will tend to kill it. I do have a son, too, a two-and-a-half-year-old, so I am a little bit more worried in our backyard, but if you do feel comfortable moving it, do that rather than kill it. Like we said, they do take care of mice and rats.►Copperheads are good for the environment. Q: What warning do you have for people outside this summer when it comes to snakes?A: Just be on the lookout. If you're going on a trail run, or even around here, just look to the sides, just be aware and if you find a snake on the path, here at the Science Center, call us. We do have a herp team that will come out and move the snakes for the guests. I'm a part of that. I've moved several snakes around. But, even if you're not there, just walk around it or turn away, just leave it alone.Q: Where do snakes like to hide?A: So, in the cooler, sunset, and in the morning when the sun is starting to come out, they like to come out and bask, so they’ll usually find warmer spots like pavement or rocks and stuff like that. But then in the heat of the day, they tend to go in the leaf litter where it's kind of cool. So, you'll usually just see them out and about first thing in the morning or at night. At then in the mid-day, you really won’t see them, it gets too hot. So, rocks, leaf litter, wood piles, different stuff like that they like to hide in.Q: How do you keep snakes from getting inside the house? A: So, inside the house, I know in the winter people have this problem because they try to go where it’s warmer, but I do tell people if they don’t want them around the house or the yard if they have a wood pile, keep it away from the house. Because, like I said, they love to hide out there. Try to keep the yard tidy, try to keep mice and rats away, and it's kind of hard to tell people not to do this for a snake to get in, because if you have a pet door or if you just leave the door open for just a little bit, they may find their way in. My parents have found snakeskins in their garage, so you just kind of keep the house kind of tidy, especially around the outside.►Snakes love to hide in wood piles.Q: What should you do if you’re bitten by a black snake?A: So, black snakes, as I said, are non-venomous. What I would do if you were to get bitten is clean your wound with soap and water really well and just watch it. Their mouths are usually pretty clean, nothing too crazy, but a rat snake just wash your hand with soap and hot water.Q: What should you do if you’re bitten by a copperhead?A: So, copperhead, I would go to the hospital. What they would do is they would watch the bite area where it got you. Sometimes copperheads will do what is called a ‘dry bite’ where they don’t envenomate you because the venom is very hard to make, and it takes a long time. So, what they would do is circle it, and if you might start to swell, they might give you some anti-venom, then if you don’t swell, then they’re not probably going to give you anything, maybe some antibiotics for the bite, but I would definitely go the hospital.►If bitten by a copperhead, go to the hospital. Q: So, would a dry bite be a way that the snakes would say back off without having to use the venom?A: Yes. We actually had a case here several years ago where a child was bitten by a copperhead, but it was a dry bite, thankfully. But yes, go to the hospital.Q: What are some venomous snakes in North Carolina?A: We have eastern diamondback rattlesnakes, we have cottonmouths, we have timber rattlesnakes, we also have the coral snakes, which are very rare and hard to see; they're toward the coast, and we also have the pygmy rattlesnakes, so we’ve got several species.Q: Do all rattlesnakes have a rattler?A: Yes, and our guys have that too. Pretty cool. Q: Should you only be concerned about copperheads in this area?A: So copperheads are found in all 100 counties of North Carolina, and they are found here in Guilford County, but you will not find any of the other venomous snakes in Guilford County. The diamondback, the cottonmouth, the pigmy, and the coral snake are all Sandhills further down. Now, the timber rattlesnake, you can find that out in the mountains and in Asheboro, in that area too. So those are where you’ll find those, but here in Guilford County, the copperheads are the ones you have to worry about.Test your knowledge here! See if you can guess the six venomous snakes in North Carolina.