Fran Still Rattling a Few Nerves

One rat snake became angry at WRAL photographer Robert Meikle.Luckily, it was non-poisonous. (SeeQuickTimevideo)

Hurricane Fran may not have increased the snake population, butherpetologist Jeff Beane says it may have made them more visible. In someareas it created a habitat for some species like scarlet king snakes--which depend on fallen trees, stump holes and similar areas created bydebris.

After Fran, crews cleared away mountains of debris. Still, piles of logsand brush remain. It's enough to keep chain saws and pickup trucks busyall summer. Beane warns folks to beware of snakes while doing yard work.He says on just about any given day in the summer, people are bound to seemany more snakes than they normally would.

If you do see one, even a poisonous copperhead or cotton mouth, Beanesays don't panic. Venomous snakes are the only ones that are going tocause any problems. Just be careful where you step or put your hands.Snakes are not going to attack you. Don't bother them, and they won'tbother you.

Even Miekle's unfriendly rat snake first tried to run away. It thengave plenty of warning before striking back and did not bite.Had Miekle taken Beane's advice, he would have simply walked away.