Editor's Pick: Why September Is Uniquely Dangerous for Fatal Outdoor Encounters

Chungbuk Woraksan National Park.

This is near a gravesite just a few steps away from the hiking trail.

A snake reveals itself among the grass.

When the camera gets close, it raises its head and charges straight ahead.

The sharp-nosed pit viper, which accounts for the most bite accidents in the country, and the tiger keelback, which is mistakenly known to be non-venomous, are both venomous snakes inhabiting this area.

It is especially dangerous in autumn, including September.

[Song Jae-young / Senior Research Fellow, Korea National Park Service: Around August and September, mother snakes carry babies in their bodies. They give birth around September and October. As a result, the snakes themselves can become sensitive, and their activity increases in autumn to prepare for hibernation.]

This is also confirmed by the numbers.

Over the past five years, about 4,200 people were rushed to 119 rescue services after being bitten by snakes, with September seeing the highest number at 886.

A bite can require up to a month of treatment and can even result in death.

With lingering heat still present now, it is easy to encounter snakes in shaded forests, and they are difficult to spot with the naked eye.

Snakes have poor vision and hearing.

Instead, they sense vibrations in the ground.

Therefore, when entering grassy areas, it is best to tap the ground like this to give the snakes time to avoid you.

We visited a house near the mountain.

A hornet's nest was built under the eaves.

Bee sting accidents are also concentrated around this time of year when outdoor activities increase.

In September of last year alone, more than 2,100 people were taken to hospitals for bee stings.

That averages out to 70 people a day.

[Hong Jong-tae / Head of Song-gye 3-ri, Jecheon: Asian giant hornets are common around gravesites. Because gravesites are formed with loose and soft soil, Asian giant hornets inhabit those areas in large numbers.]

Hornets attack just from vibrations and human presence, even if you do not provoke them.

If a swarm of bees attacks, you should not lie down, but rather move away immediately.

You must put a distance of at least 20 meters or more between you and them.

Experts recommend inspecting the area around a gravesite for about 5 to 10 minutes before tending to ancestral graves.

(Reported by Jang Sun-i | Produced by Kim Da-yeon | Filmed by Kang Si-woo | Video edited by Kim Yun-sung | Produced by SBS Digital News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.