![]() The bite is a last resort to defend itself from an animal much larger than itself, which it certainly doesn’t see as a potential meal. Even with these warning signs, they rarely strike unless stepped on or handled. Even though you may have never noticed any of the prior warnings, all the snake knows is that he gave you all warnings to stay away and that you persisted. Get even closer, and the copperhead will lift its head to show you it’s ready to bite if you keep provoking. As you get closer, the copperhead will start to shake, or “rattle,” its tail to resemble a rattlesnake. As you get closer, it will curl up into its camouflage pile, blending in with fallen leaf litter on the ground. When walking through potential copperhead habitat, the snake will likely spot you first and may try to move away. ![]() A copperhead bite typically occurs when it’s least expected, after several attempts to discourage you, the “predator,” from coming close. When curled up, their camouflage resembles a pile of fallen leaves this helps them remain hidden from potential predators – including you. Keep in mind that the hourglass shapes can occasionally “mismatch” and seem like they disconnect from the complete shape.Ĭopperheads are not aggressive, nor do they go out of their way to bite humans or other unsuspecting bystanders. The hourglass shape lays somewhat “sideways” on the copperhead’s back the wider portion of the shape starts on one side of the body, thins towards the spine, and then widens back out to the opposite side of the snake. Copperheads are the only species of snake with this pattern. They have a darker brown crossband pattern down the length of their body that resembles an hourglass shape. The body color of a copperhead is typically a pale tan to brown color with an almost light pink tint to it. Photo Credit: Allen Bridgman, SCDNR, Pattern and Camouflage An adult copperhead’s average length ranges between 2 to 3 feet but can reach 4 feet. Nonvenomous snakes in our area tend to have long, slender bodies that align with their head. The pit vipers that live in South Carolina all have heavy, stocky bodies with pronounced heads. These wider parts of the head allow for space to fit the snake’s fangs and venom glands. Some people call it an “arrowhead-shaped” head. Since the copperhead is a pit viper, you’ll notice a very distinctive triangular-shaped head. The copperhead gets its name from the coppery-tan color found mainly on its head and throughout parts of its body down to the tail. Once you are familiar with these key characteristics, you’ll be able to successfully distinguish between the copperhead and other venomous and nonvenomous snakes in the area. There are several ways to identify a copperhead. Photo Credit: Allen Bridgman, SCDNR, Ways to Identify the Copperhead When curled up, a copperhead’s camouflage resembles a pile of fallen leaves.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |