Copperhead Snake

In the eastern parts of the US, the Copperhead Snake is the most commonly encountered venomous snakes. The snake, with by the way has the Latin name Agkistrodon contortrix, has dark colored bands of different width across most of its body except for the tip of its tail, which may look almost greenish or yellowish.

It can reach a size of 40 inches (1.05 meter) but the normal size of the Copperhead is in the range 24 to 36 inches (61-91 cm).

A copperhead snake eats small rodents, cicadas, birds, lizards, other snakes, frogs and other amphibians, spiders and all sorts of insects. The snake serves an important role in the ecosystem by controlling the population density of its prey. Without the Copperhead Snake and other snakes the population size of several species would reach inexpedient levels.

Habitat

Copperheads can be found in many different types of habitats, but they do prefer to live close to water. The abundance of the Copperhead snakes in forested areas or suburban areas is also relatively large. Copperheads has a habit of lying completely still when threatened, and so they are eradicated in large numbers on roads due to their habit of freezing when danger approaches. This habit of freezing originates from its behavior in nature, where it is an advantage to remain motionless and wait for a threat to pass by.

Copperhead Snake Bite

Usually copperheads don't bite. However, if you grasp one or get very close to one, it will and can bite you. Bites are used as the last line of defence. The Copperhead was responsible for approximately 37 percent of venomous snake bites in the US in 2001 (Lavonas E.J. et al., 2004)¹

And it must assume that this percentage is quite constant over years. Most bites from the Copperhead is in the eastern parts of the US, so here the percentage is probably higher.

Venom

The venom is toxic and a bite from a Copperhead Snake is extremely painful, requires immediate medical treatment, but is very, very seldom fatal. In fact, its one of the least venomous snakes of the venomous snakes in the USA

It may however cause serious damage to your tissue and leave scars. Also there's always a risk of catching secondary infection caused by bacteria from the snakes mouth parts.

Therefore, there's no point in trying to handle these snakes unless you have some formal training handlings snakes. So don't try to kill a Copperhead Snake even if you get bitten by one. As the guy in the video says «Its not string venom but it put you to the hospital».

Behavior prior to a bite

When agitated, the snake will shake its tail to warn you. It has been noted that Copperhead snakes has a habit of lashing out after people. This initial warning will probably not inject large amounts of venom into your body if the fangs accidentally penetrates your skin. However, if the snake doesn't reach you, see it as a warning but not an attack. Don't mess with this snake - it's not aggressive but it will bite if felt threatened. Keep away from it unless you are trained in handling snakes.

Life Cycle of Copperhead Snakes

Copperheads breeds from the end of July until September. Females give birth to live, 7-9 inch long, young snakes. The young Copperhead is a bit lighter than the adult Copperhead. Usually the tip of their tail is yellowish. Some herpetologist thinks that this is to lure lizards and frogs, but that-s has never been confirmed.

References

¹Lavonas et al., (2004) "Initial experience with Crotalidae polyvalent immune Fab (ovine) antivenom in the treatment of copperhead snakebite", ANNALS OF EMERGENCY MEDICINE 43 (2): pp. 200-206

Resources

Reclining with Vipers
Ohio State University - Copperhead Snakes
Australian Copperheads

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