Gwinnett mayor bitten by copperhead, warns residents

The city recognized frequently as an urban wildlife sanctuary may have a little too much wildlife lately.

Lois Salter, the mayor of Gwinnett's Berkeley Lake, recently warned residents to be on the lookout for copperhead snakes after experiencing a bite of her own. According to the mayor’s message to residents, the venomous snakebite sent her to the hospital for three days and many weeks off her foot during recovery.

According to Salter, “The copperhead, which now recurs in my nightmares, has markings that look like Hershey kisses along its sides. I ran into mine about 10 p.m. in the middle of my driveway right at the edge of the street.”

Salter went on to remind residents that nonvenomous king snakes, coyotes, raccoons and possums are the best defense against copperheads since they eat the snakes. She also noted most people are bitten between 9 and 10 p.m. and encouraged residents to be cautious.

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