Habitat
Within its range it occupies a variety of different habitats. In most of its range favoring deciduous forest and mixed woodlands. They are often associated with rock outcroppings and ledges, but are also found in low-lying swampy regions. In the southern parts it can also be found in pine forests in. In the dry areas of West Texas and Mexico it is often found around watercourses.
It prefers to live in wooded areas, among rocks, or near streams or ponds because prey is more plentiful in such locations. Favorite hiding places include stone walls, sawdust, garden mulch or compost piles, and under decaying stumps, in wood piles, under abandoned building debris, and under large flat stones. This snake will be seen basking during the day when weather is cool but not cold. During the heat of summer, it will stay hidden during the day and become active at night.
In October the Copperhead retreats to its underground den to hibernate until late February or early March. Dens are most often in rocky hillsides with southern or eastern exposure to the sun. These “snake dens” will be returned to year after year and may contain a large number of snakes. In late summer through mid-October, between 1 and 14 young are born alive rather than hatched from eggs.
This common snake accounts for the largest number of snake bites in the US every year, thousands of documented cases of people injured every year, and many more pets that are bitten often many of these going unreported.
Copperheads are very common in many districts, Throughout the South Eastern states in particular; North Carolina holds the dubious title of the state with the most snakebite cases each year.
With such high numbers of Copperhead snakes in the places we live in, being the main reason for the great number of injuries.
Small copperhead snakes are notorious for getting “Everywhere” in the garden, in flower beds, in cars, coming up around porches and decks, many being so small they are an invitation to small children and pets to investigate.
Even the smallest baby copperhead is capable of inflicting a painful and dangerous bite
Baby copperhead showing its distinctive yellow tail
The Copperhead comes in several color variations, depending on the location, from bright copper and light through to very dark brown shades.
Copperheads are usually colorful and strikingly patterned snakes. The background color of the back and sides is tan to pinkish. There are darker, chestnut colored bands across the back and sides. Each hourglass shaped band is of varying width.
Newborn Copperheads are colored and patterned like adults, excepting the last inch of so of the tail which will be a bright, sulfur yellow color.
Virtually all adult still retain the copper color head, which gives it its name.
When adult they are moderately sized snakes, normally reaching 2–4 feet, with thick, heavy bodies.
The copperhead bite is not usually fatal in adults, but very painful and often lasting discomfort is the result.
Parents who have seen their children go through the pain and suffering a copperhead bite can cause; it is something nobody would wish to experience again.
Bite symptoms include intense pain, tingling, throbbing, swelling, and severe nausea. 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.
