DENVER, N.C. (AP) — The wife of a North Carolina man bitten by a poisonous snake at a home improvement store says her husband was shopping for flowers to surprise her when he was stricken.

The woman, who asked that her last name not be used, told WSOC-TV (http://on.wsoctv.com/1suPaV5) her husband is in a lot of pain.

She says she’s been worried about her husband since he was bitten Monday afternoon at a Lowe’s store about 25 miles northwest of Charlotte.

Doctors say the man is expected to recover.

Lowe’s says it’s still trying to determine how the copperhead got into the outdoor lawn and garden section of the store. A search has turned up no more snakes.

The woman says she thinks her husband will go for chocolates rather than flowers next time.