Taking out the trash in Youngsville ended with a venomous snake bite, weeks of recovery ahead, and the prospect of a hospital bill that could approach a jaw-dropping six figures for one local woman.
Renee Chisholm says she was bitten twice on her left toe by an eastern copperhead while hauling bins to the curb last week. She was rushed to Franklin Regional Medical Center, where doctors gave her eight vials of antivenom before transferring her to Duke for about 20 more. By her estimate, the treatment alone could run between roughly $800,000 and $900,000. She told reporters she still cannot feel three toes and relies on oxycodone at night to manage the pain.
As reported by WRAL, Chisholm said she carefully checked around each trash can before lifting it, but a copperhead was tucked beneath the third bin and struck her twice on the same toe. She called 911 and was taken first to Franklin Regional, where she received eight vials of antivenom, then was moved to Duke for about 20 more vials. Chisholm told the station she was informed that each vial runs around $15,000, leading her to brace for a bill in the $800,000 to $900,000 range.
Antivenom Is The Big-Ticket Item
Antivenom is the standard treatment for pit viper snakebites and, as Chisholm’s case underscores, it is often the single most expensive part of care. A 2025 study in the Journal of Medical Toxicology found that total treatment costs for similar snakebites averaged about $31,343 per patient, with medications making up roughly 72% of that total.
Local health systems in the Triangle have told reporters that list prices can swing widely. UNC Health has estimated an initial four-to-six-vial dose at about $47,000 to $77,000. Per-vial list prices cited by other centers land in the tens of thousands of dollars, though insurers typically absorb much of that cost, as The News & Observer has reported.
Snake Season In The Triangle
Chisholm’s encounter is not exactly a one-in-a-million fluke. North Carolina Poison Control recorded more than 600 reported venomous snakebites in 2025, and officials say copperheads account for most of those cases in the Triangle, according to WUNC.
Nationally, the CDC/NIOSH notes that about 7,000 to 8,000 venomous snakebites occur in the United States each year, with only a handful resulting in death. Public health and wildlife officials consistently push the same basic advice: give snakes plenty of space, wear closed-toe shoes when working in the yard, and seek immediate medical care for any suspected bite.
The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission and local identification guides point out that copperheads typically have heavy bodies, hourglass-shaped bands, and a distinct copper-colored head, and they warn that yard clutter such as wood and rock piles can create prime habitat for them (NC Wildlife).
Chisholm’s ordeal is a sharp reminder that everyday chores can turn risky during snake season. Neighbors are urged to check around bins and debris before moving them, wear sturdy shoes, and call 911 if they are bitten. That pattern of snakes popping up in lawns, planters, and landscaping was recently chronicled in a Hoodline report on copperheads closer to your front door, and experts say awareness plus fast medical care remain the best defenses against lasting harm.
