ATLANTA (AP) - Doctors at Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta say they've had to deal with an unusual number of copperhead bites this year.

Piedmont Hospital has treated six patients for copperhead bites this year.

Herpetologists at Zoo Atlanta say copperhead snakes are common in metro Atlanta. WSB-TV reports (http://bit.ly/nD65ne) that more than 200 bites have been reported to the Georgia Poison Control so far this year.

They say the snakes have been looking for water because it's been dry this year, and sometimes wind up on lawns and on places around homes with standing water.

Experts say the best prevention against snake bites can be clearing away brush in the yard and wearing gloves.