DENVER, N.C., May 19 (UPI) -- A North Carolina fire department warned residents to be cautious at stores that sell trees after a Lowe's customer was bitten by a venomous copperhead snake.

The East Lincoln Fire Department said in a since-deleted Facebook post that the customer was bitten by the copperhead while shopping in the garden center of the Lowe's Home Improvement store in Denver.


"This could happen at any store that sells trees," the post said.

The post included a photo of the snake being carried away in a plastic bag.

Lowe's spokeswoman Karen Cobb confirmed the incident and said employees called 911 and the customer was transported to a local hospital.

The 45-year-old bite victim told WCNC-TV he was shopping for gardenias for his wife when he encountered the snake. The man, who is recovering in the hospital's intensive care ward, said the serpent struck when he reached into some bushes.

A Lowe's representative said officials are investigating how the snake, which is native to the area, ended up in the garden center.

The North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service said copperhead bites aren't often fatal to humans, but they can cause tissue damage and other severe injuries.