It’s Copperhead season!

If you’re like me and like to frequent the outdoors, it’s important to pay attention to your surroundings. Mother nature can be as dangerous as she is beautiful.

The Copperhead is the most common venomous snake found in the eastern US and can be found throughout Virginia in most all habitats, although they often prefer to be near streams and other waterways. They may be found on hilltops or lowlands. It is not unusual for Copperheads to be found in forested or undeveloped areas within and near suburban developments. They generally mate between from April to May and give birth to their young between mid-August and early October.

Copperhead

You can recognize this poisonous snake immediately by the prominent copper color of its head. The Copperhead is overall chestnut in color with dark brown bands crisscrossing the length of its rust and copper colored body forming a striking geometric cross-band pattern. This pattern is wider in the center of the body narrowing towards each end. When camping, hiking or exploring nature, one must be careful and stay alert, because these same beautiful markings give the Copperhead its natural camouflage.

Camouflage

The Copperhead is generally an ambush predator: it takes up a promising position and waits for suitable prey to arrive. They prefer habitats with lots of vines, vegetation and/or debris. Their coloration and patterning is very effective for camouflage in dead leaves on the forest floor. When lying on dead leaves or red clay they can be almost impossible to notice. They will frequently stay still even when approached closely, and will generally strike only if physical contact is made or you get very, very close to them.

Copperheads are venomous, pit vipers and account for more cases of venomous snake bite than any other species. The Copperhead’s venom is a hemotoxin, which is injected through its fangs. This venom destroys the red blood cells of its prey. Bites from Copperheads are very seldom fatal but may still produce serious consequences. A bite usually results in immediate intense pain and throbbing, followed by severe swelling , bruising, sweating, shaking, weakness and nausea to the victim. Damage can occur to muscle and bone tissue, especially when the bite occurs in the outer extremities such as the hands and feet, areas in which there is not a large muscle mass to absorb the venom. Medical treatment for a bite should be sought out immediately. An effective Copperhead anti-venom exists, but is usually only administered as a last resort because the threat of allergic reaction is usually more dangerous to the victim than the snakebite.

Copperhead in leaves

Safety Tips

• Keep grass and vegetation mowed short on private property-snakes like to hunt in tall grass
• Stay on the sidewalk and park trails
• Supervise children at all times
• Do not approach a copperhead – NEVER pick up a snake
• Keep dogs on leash at all times
• Do not overturn rocks or logs
• Wear appropriate protective clothing when outdoors

If you are bitten by a snake

• Stay calm
• Do not apply a tourniquet
• Keep body part immobilized and area level with heart
• Seek immediate medical attention (nearest hospital)