WASHINGTON — The National Mall and Memorial Parks Facebook page reported a northern copperhead snake was seen in East Potomac Park on May 21.

Copperheads are the only venomous snakes in the District, but are rarely seen around the National Mall. Their bites are rarely fatal, and the National Park Service wrote that anyone who comes into contact with one should stay calm and move away slowly.

According to the park service’s post, copperhead snakes are known to expand their home ranges at this time of year to find mates. They are a protected species, like all wildlife in national parks, and provide pest control for the area because their diet consists mainly of rodents.