Copperhead Snakes: Facts, Characteristics, Bites and Treatment

 Copperhead Snakes

The copperhead snake, these reptiles may have more misinformation sparked about them than any other creature in North America and very few people know the truth about these amazing snakes. As a result of the fear and shouting about this animal, countless non-venomous serpents are killed every year under the suspicion that they could be a copperhead.  The goal of this article is to shed light on this mysterious creature and show the true identity of these incredible organisms.

These are probably the most widely distributed venomous snake in the entire Eastern US. They have quite a reputation because they have a venomous bite. Copperheads are pit vipers and pit vipers are the most common class of venomous snakes that are present in North America.

This reputation makes them insane classes things, like rattlesnakes and cottonmouths which are actually these snakes' closest cousins.

How do we know a copperhead?

It has a copper-colored head and hourglass pattern on its back.

Copper snakes belong to the phylum reptile. The Copperhead is a pit viper it is not a rattlesnake however like rattlesnakes they will sometimes wiggle just the tip of their tail against leaf litter alerting any potential predator or even a human.

Some species of copperhead are born with yellow tails.  Copperheads use it as a lure to attract prey like lizards, frogs, or even emerging cicadas.

Body Pattern

 People sometimes confuse non-venomous snake species with copperheads or water moccasins. There is very distinct banding that runs down the length of the body it looks just like the banding on a younger northern water snake and even the underside of the underbelly that slightly checkered patterning. The design on the dorsal scale pattern almost looks like a fox neck.

Copperheads have a very unique pattern. From the top, it almost looks like an hourglass, on the sides, it's kind of like a Hershey's kiss, but there's usually some dots in there. The edges are a little rough.

Other snakes look similar to that but the only other snake in North Carolina with a pattern that is almost exactly mimicking that is the cottonmouth, which is actually the copperheads’ closest cousin.

 Lots of people do try and use things like the head for identification. But copperheads do not have that same bulky look to their heads that other pit vipers do.  Simply, because their venom glands are a lot smaller so their heads can actually look very similar to other snakes.

 For instance, Northern Watersnakes will flatten their heads to look similar to copperheads and make an easy to miss identified, but the Copperhead does have that pattern very distinctive and the only other snake that has a pattern just like this.

 The Copperhead, which is also venomous as a baby, there is one really easy tip to identify. A small snake probably smaller than a foot, if it's Copperhead or not look at the tail. As a baby, these tails are actually green or net green or yellow. All baby copperheads have tails like that.

 A baby Copperhead can also use that as a lure to attract insects waving that tail and getting insects to come in and they will eat those insects. As an adult looks for that pattern and as a juvenile look for the tail in the pattern and that's the best way to identify these snakes.

This snake does have a rather negative reputation but, when it comes to venom toxicity this is a dangerous snake. it is not a reptile but when it comes to the venomous snakes in the United States, this is on the lower end of potency.

They will occasionally strike at pets or people when they feel threatened.

This snake strikes from an uncoiled position give no indication that will strike not even a tongue hook. This shoots down a common myth that a snake cannot strike unless in his court.

 A water moccasin, which is a much larger snake has a higher venom yield when it bites, especially when it comes to rattlesnakes, an Eastern diamondback a timber rattlesnake. A western diamondback bigger snake means a larger venom yield.  

The size of this snake's head is rather small which means it has smaller venom glands but keeps in mind it's all about how the body reacts to venom. If somebody is bitten by a Copper head they may die from anaphylactic shock. A bite from snake-like a copperhead could mean the end of life.  

These snakes are the most common venomous snake in the United States and they're also present in North Carolina. They are the snake, that bites the most people per year but that doesn't mean that these snakes are more aggressive than other venomous snakes.

Copperheads are excellent urban colonists, these snakes are really good at making a home and making a living in the sub-urban habitats.

These snakes are found in neighborhoods these snakes are slugs even found in urban settings and green spaces and parks in different cities.

These snakes are so good at hiding undercover during the day and that's what causes people to get bit. They love to hide under ten or old wood or old toys or anything like that.  

Copperheads love hiding up under those pieces of structure and they do that to hide from predators as well as to absorb heat.

They are very active hunters at night especially during the summer and late fall because it gets so hot during the day. The reason they're so good at hunting at night. Because as pit vipers, they do have those heat-sensitive pits in between their nose and their eye.

What level and what that lets them do is actually see like an infrared layout of everything around them. They can see any warm-blooded animals that are around them.

Conclusion

Copperheads are in the middle of the ecosystem. They are predators but they also fall prey to predators like hawks, great blue herons, or larger snakes especially king snakes love the copperheads. that is why these are so important to the ecosystem.

If bitten by Copperhead seek medical attention. The bites can lead to localized tissue damage because the venom is hemotoxic and it destroys blood cells.

 The risk of infection is very high; their venom is considered pretty mild as compared to other pit vipers. For instance, cottonmouth venom is estimated to be about ten times as potent as Copperhead venom.

These snakes are very common; they are venomous just like other snakes. They fulfill that middle layer in the ecosystem. They are just like other snakes very crucial and very good indicators of a healthy environment.

They are one of the most successful urban colonists of the reptile world and they are animal that should be respected they're an animal that is very beautiful into appreciated.

The best way to avoid a copperhead bite is just to be aware that they do like cover out in yards old toys things like that and also walking around in your yard during the evening hours might not be an idea most because you will have less visibility in the copperheads will be able to see you better.

These snakes while feared by many are generally secretive animals who would much rather survive in peace than interact with human beings.

They would like to defend themselves but will not go out of their way to harm if, they are best left alone. The best way to avoid a bite is to not interact with the snake.