Officials are warning the public to be on snake watch following an unusually warmer and wetter than average winter throughout the United States.

Snakes enjoy the warm and wet conditions and increased populations are expected.

Just recently, Daily News reader, Jason Fowler, encountered two copperheads on his morning hike.

“Copperheads are a bit more dangerous than other snakes around here because when they’re scared they just stop moving which makes them easy to step on,” Fowler explained.

New research shows that snakebites increase right after the rainy season.

“Other snakes like timber rattlers will rattle or run away, but these guys just stop and lie still,” he said.