Is that a copperhead? Here's how to tell if that snake you found in Virginia is venomous

[mahatmakanejeeves]

I'm going to leave out the pictures.

LOCAL NEWS

Is that a copperhead? Here’s how to tell if that snake you found in Virginia is venomous

by: Kassidy Hammond

Posted: May 9, 2023 / 01:24 PM EDT

Updated: May 11, 2023 / 08:28 AM EDT

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — We may be far from the dog days of summer, but outdoor enthusiasts should still be on their toes — because it’s snake season, baby. ... Spring is a time of rebirth and renewal. And when the first sunny days with elevated temperatures arrive, humans aren’t the only beings that flock to sunbathe outdoors.

Snakes of all ages return from brumation en mass to stake their claim to sunny spots along the shorelines and throughout the wilderness. While most snakes found natively in Virginia are not venomous, the three that are should be carefully, and steadfastly, avoided.

The Northern Copperhead

The most common of the three, copperheads are found statewide and are usually discovered in gardens and woodlots, often sunning themselves in open areas and on trails. But, don’t think they stick to the ground. Copperheads can even be found climbing into bushes and trees to feed and enjoy the sun’s rays, according to the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources.

Copperheads are medium-sized snakes and can grow to a length of 24 to 26 inches. Although nightmare fuel for some, copperheads are generally non-aggressive. The DWR says most copperhead bites are due to an unfortunate misplaced step.

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[GreenWave]

1. But the other snakes were so

[OldBaldy1701E]

2. I grew up in the Tidewater... which is SE Virginia and NE North Carolina.

(The Great Dismal, baby!) And the copperhead is a common snake there. But, I always felt that the cottonmouth was the more dangerous in the fact that the cottonmouth would attack, not just strike as a last measure. I have been chased by cottonmouths before. Fortunately, the cottonmouth is more prone to be in wet areas whereas the copperhead can be about anywhere... except where the cottonmouths are. Figures.

[Best_man23]

4. Cottonmouths (AKA Water Moccasins) are aggressive snakes

They will come after you. Used to encounter them now and again when I was living in SW Florida. I always look at the head (shaped like a coffin) to definitively identify a cottonmouth.

In Virginia, I'm always looking for copperheads when I'm working in the lawn and garden, and have the number for the Virginia Poison Control preset in my cellphone. To keep them away, I use organic pest control methods (deterrent spray) to keep their sources of food like rodents and rabbits out of the yard and garden.

[3Hotdogs]

3. I live in N.J. I hike several times per week. I encountered a Copperhead, once. Bites are so rare.

(Cue) How rare, 3H?

Well, they are so rare that there were two bites last October. Both made the state's largest paper. The bites were followed by signs on both trails, Bald Pate Mountain and Ringing Rock State Park, Pennsylvania.