The Mayor of Monroe, North Carolina, is highlighting the dangers of local wildlife after his wife, Lauren, suffered a severe copperhead snake bite on their property.
The Incident
On April 30, Mayor Robert Burns shared on X (formerly Twitter) that his wife was bitten by a 4-foot copperhead while walking through a wooded area of their yard. Lauren was on a phone call when the snake struck her left ankle without warning.
“I’ve seen her with six children and kidney stones… she is in excruciating pain right now,” Burns told Fox News Digital, noting that the agony surpassed anything he had seen her endure previously.
Medical Response and Recovery
The family rushed to a local emergency room, where staff monitored Lauren for extreme swelling. While doctors initially considered administering antivenom, her vitals eventually stabilized, allowing her to return home for recovery.
Current Status:
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Condition: Stabilized but in significant pain.
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Symptoms: Severe swelling and tissue damage.
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Outlook: The Mayor noted they are “not out of the woods yet” and requested continued prayers from the community.
Key Facts About Copperheads
According to Live Science, copperheads are responsible for more snakebites in the U.S. than any other species.
| Feature | Detail |
| Behavior | Defensive; they often strike immediately with no warning. |
| Venom | Rarely fatal to humans but causes immediate, painful tissue damage. |
| Identification | Distinctive hourglass patterns; often camouflaged in leaves or woods. |
Mayor’s Advice
Burns urged the public to treat every snakebite as an emergency, emphasizing that medical intervention is crucial because it is often difficult to identify a snake in the heat of the moment. He expressed deep gratitude for the “absolutely amazing” medical staff and the outpouring of support from the Monroe community.
So… word has gotten out that my sweet wife was bitten by a large copperhead last night.
When it happened, we rushed her to the ER. The staff at our local hospital were absolutely amazing. They were responsive, kind, very helpful, and overall fantastic.
Our biggest concern was… pic.twitter.com/qWhJKAoId9
— Robert Burns (@RobertBurns82) May 1, 2026