How To Identify A Copperhead Snake? Spotting Safe Snakessss

Copperhead snakes (Agkistrodon Contortrix) are among the most common venomous snakes found in North America, and they are very dangerous.

The venom of Agkistrodon contortrix is weak, and their bites rarely cause death in people, yet they are the most likely to bite. As per the biology department at Pennsylvania State University, these snakes get their name from their copper-red heads.

Other snakes of this species are known as copperheads, which is a generic term for them. Copperheads include water moccasins, radiated rat snakes, Australian copperheads, and sharp-nosed pit vipers, but they are not the same species of snakes as the North American copperhead.

Snakes like rattlesnakes and cottonmouth moccasin are also known as pit vipers, and copperheads belong to this group as well. Pit vipers have distinct heat-sensing pits between their eyes and nostrils on each side of their heads, which can detect minute temperature differences and allow them to precisely attack the heat source, which is often potential prey. The behavior of copperheads is very similar to many other pit vipers.

When it comes to their diet, copperheads usually ambush their prey by sitting and waiting; but, they do occasionally hunt, utilizing their heat-sensing pits to locate prey. When attacking huge prey, copperheads bite the animal and then release it, according to the ADW. They wait for the poison to take effect before hunting the prey once it dies. Smaller prey is usually retained in the snake's jaws until it expires. Copperheads swallow their meal whole, using their flexibly hinged jaws to do it. Copperheads can only eat 10 - 12 meals each year, depending on how big their feasts are.

The mating season of copperhead snakes takes place between February and October, and it may be rather spectacular. When two or more males meet in the company of a receptive female, they may partake in ritual combat. When a snake loses, it is unusual for it to challenge again. A female may also challenge potential lovers, and males who step back from a battle with her will always be rejected. Copperheads are ovoviviparous, meaning their eggs are incubated within the mother's body. The female will store sperm and delay conception for months after mating in the fall by October until she has finished hibernation. Copperhead babies are born with fangs and venom that are as strong as adults’.

Copperheads are divided into five subspecies based on their geographic range: northern, northwestern, southern, and two southwestern subspecies. The northern copperhead has by far the greatest range, ranging from Alabama to Massachusetts and Illinois. Copperheads commonly live in a broad variety of environments, however, they like to be near woodlands or forests. Ecotones, which are transition zones between two natural groups, are particularly appealing to them.

Northern copperheads like rocky, forested regions, mountains, dense undergrowth near streams, desert oasis, canyons, and other natural settings. They thrive in nearly any environment that provides both sunlight and shade. Copperheads are quite adaptable to changes in their environment. This indicates that they can thrive in the suburbs. Copperheads have been spotted in wood and sawdust heaps, abandoned agricultural buildings, junkyards, and construction sites. According to Beane, they frequently seek refuge under surface covers such as boards, metal sheets, logs, or large flat rocks.

After reading about these venomous snakes and their living pattern, do check out, are black snakes poisonous and are snakes cold blooded?

Ways To Identify The Copperhead

The copperhead can be distinguished from these two similar-looking species in a number of ways. The copperhead's name comes from the coppery-tan hue that can be found on its head and other portions of its body all the way down to its tail. The normal length of an adult copperhead is 2-3 ft (0.6-0.9 m), although its length can go up to 4 ft (1.2 m). Because the copperhead is a pit viper, its head has a characteristic triangular shape. It's been dubbed an 'arrowhead-shaped' head by others. The snake's fangs and venom glands are housed in these larger portions of the head.

Except for the coral snake, eye pupil form is a fairly straightforward technique to identify not only copperheads but also other poisonous snakes in Southern Carolina. A golden eye with a black vertical and oval pupil, similar to a cat's eye, distinguish the copperhead. Please keep in mind that this will necessitate strong vision and a good vantage position. However, if you try to approach too close to the snake to examine this trait, you may end up putting yourself at risk and provoking a snake strike. All non-venomous Southern Carolina snakes, including the venomous coral snake, have round pupils.

Copperhead juveniles are notable for having a bright yellow tail that they utilize to attract prey like frogs and small lizards. If you come into a yellow-tail baby copperhead, be cautious and avoid approaching it. They have functional venom glands from birth, but they can't control the amount of venom they inject. As a result, being bitten by a juvenile copperhead rather than an adult copperhead may put you in more danger.

Copperhead Pattern And Camouflage

The copperhead's pattern resembles an hourglass in parts, and this is among the most distinguishing features of the species. The hourglass shape on the copperhead's back is slightly sideways; the broader part of the shape begins on one part of the body, thins towards the mid-edge of the back, and then widens out to the opposite end of the snake. Simply put, the top of the hourglass contacts the left side of the body, while the bottom of the hourglass reaches the right. Please note that the hourglass forms can often mismatch and appear to separate from the overall design, particularly at the tail.

Copperheads are not violent, and they do not seek out human beings or other unwitting bystanders to bite. It all comes down to how well they blend in. Their camouflage mimics a pile of dry leaves when coiled up, which helps them stay hidden from predators like you. After repeated attempts to keep the predator from approaching it, a copperhead bite usually happens when you least expect it. If you're walking through prospective copperhead territory, the snake will most likely notice you first and try to flee. It will curl into its camouflage pile as you draw near, blending in with the fallen dead leaves on the ground.

Ways To Differentiate Similar Species From Copperheads

The Corn snake and the northern water snake are very similar looking to a copperhead snake. The corn snake is among the many rat snake species found in North America. Corn snakes, unlike copperheads, do not have fangs and instead use constriction to trap and subdue their food. Corn snakes are more vibrant than copperheads; they come in a variety of colors but are often redder in hue than copperheads, which have a copper-tan appearance. Corn snakes have most of their thick 'blotch' pattern on the tops (or rear) of their bodies, whereas copperheads have some of their hourglass form on the sides of their bodies. On their bellies, corn snakes feature a characteristic black-and-white 'checkerboard' pattern. Corn snakes have a smaller, slimmer head that matches their thin body angle and size, as opposed to the triangular head and larger body width of copperheads. It's also worth noting that the corn snake has a circular pupil, which is a frequent feature of nonvenomous snakes.

The non-venomous northern water snake is a common snake in North America. This is the snake that, in my experience, is most usually mistaken for a copperhead. That's most likely because their pattern and colors are so similar. Dark patches that are narrow on the sides and broaden near the backbone make up the pattern of the northern water snake. The pattern of the copperhead, on the other hand, is wider on the sides and narrower towards the backbone. Northern water snakes, unlike copperheads, have oval pupils, which are a common trait of nonvenomous snakes, as previously stated. The northern water snake's head is smaller than the copperhead's 'arrow-shaped' head because it lacks venomous fangs and fangs.

Snakes Commonly Confused For Copperheads

Cornsnake - cornsnakes have enormous vertebral patches and are generally bright orange and red in color. Unlike the hourglass above, these patches do not tend to reach the sides of the abdomen.

Juvenile black racer - these snakes are commonly mistaken for copperheads. The black racer resembles the eastern rat snake in appearance. The racer typically has a brownish base and a deeper gray pattern on the base.

Eastern hognose - these are little snakes with thick bodies that are completely harmless. They come in a range of hues, but unlike the uniform design above, they feature a hectic, irregular pattern.

Juvenile mole kingsnake - they are gray or tan in color with dark reddish-brown markings on their spines. They get almost completely brown as they age.

Northern water snakes - they can be distinguished by the strong dark patterns on the spine and dark patches toward the belly. Water Snakes may also have fully shattered bands.

Juvenile eastern rat snake - this species is often gray and black in color, with a huge dot-link pattern on the spine.

What to do if you come across a copperhead?

It depends on the circumstances of the encounter, especially how near you are to the copperhead. The striking range of the copperhead, like that of a pit viper, is about a third of its length. You have to be quite close to an adult copperhead to be in any danger, as they rarely reach 36 in (91.4 cm) in length. If you freeze and stay still close enough, the snake would most probably stay in threat position (coiled, head up, tail vibrating) for a few minutes before crawling back as long as you don't move.

Simply move away slowly if you are not in the snake's striking range; the snake will not pursue you. Because you're far too big to consume, the snake sees you as a threat rather than a potential meal. If bitten, the copperhead's venom is the least poisonous of the four venomous snakes native to the United States: coral snake, rattlesnake, cottonmouth moccasin, and copperhead. Because of where it dwells and its remarkable camouflage, it is responsible for the bulk of known bites, but just a few of the recorded human deaths.

How to safely remove baby copperheads?

The yellow-green tail of a copperhead juvenile makes it easy to spot. Juvenile copperheads can be found in rivers and creeks, under bushes and plants, in wood heaps, gardens, sheds, and under patios and decks, among other places. Copperhead babies aren't any more harmful or poisonous than adults, but their tiny size makes them difficult to spot and can lure young children and dogs.

Make sure the space around your house is clean. When removing trash, wood heaps, fallen trees, or logs, use thick gloves, loose pants or coveralls, and heavy boots. Remove any objects that have been stored beneath your patio or deck. Juvenile copperheads hide in these spots, and adding more stuff will only make it tougher to spot them. Pull objects out from under patios and decks with a shovel, not your hands or feet.

Frequently mow the lawn. Copperheads will be less attracted to your yard if it has short grass and well-managed vegetation. In your lawn and near your home, spray or place a repellent. Chemical repellents are typically sprayed in contaminated areas and last three months. These repellents work by appealing to a snake's sense of smell, but exercise caution in areas where kids and pets will be around. A more expensive approach is electronic repellents, which can be placed in a troubled location and cause a 45 ft (13.7 m) radius ground tremor. Snakes tend to detect the vibration with their body, interpret it as a danger, and flee the area. Solar-powered electronic repellents can last up to a year.

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