It's a copperhead. If it is in your yard, kill it or have its relocated miles away. If it in the wilderness, please leave it alone.

quote:

Originally posted by Muddflap:
It sure doesn’t have the pattern of a copperhead. Are there variations?

Yes, there are.

Copperhead.
The dark edge around the teardrop shape is a good clue. There is a similar looking snake that has that pattern in reverse that gets confused a lot.
We have a lot of them in north GA.
Nothing endangered about them around here. They aren't aggressive but due to their good camouflage they are easy to step on accidently.

I'm not a herpetologist, but the banding does not seem as regular as found on most Copperheads. It almost looks like a Brown Water Snake, but might be a Cottonmouth.

flashguy

Something to consider from a different angle:

In the event you are bitten and require anti venom, each vial costs $10,000.00 to $14,000.00 and it usually takes two (2) or more vials.

So, joining the leave it alone camp allows the pocketbook to stay out of the mix too.

Based on my opinion, that has the wrong headshape, but the photo isn't the best for ID either (at least to my untrained eyes).

I think the head is a bit too small, and not quite the right shape. But for me the question would be "Where is it?" In my yard= dead. In the wild= leave it be.

Copperhead. If you have small kids or pets and don't have the skills to move a venomous snake, kill it. Reduce the population near your home.

It's now dead but there were two. It was in my back yard in a suburban neighborhood. The second one went under a wood pile. My neighbors with kids and dogs are freaked out.

quote:

It's now dead but there were two.

Good choice. I agree with others that it was a Copperhead. We very similar ones where I grew up.

As others stated if in your yard, that one dies. Black snakes, garter snakes get to live....

100% Copperhead based on two distinctive characteristics.

1. The hourglass shape of the banding. The dark banding is thicker on the sides and narrow down the spine. The only other real candidate here would be a northern watersnake and it's banding is opposite, with wide banding on the spine and narrow banding on the sides.

2. Distinct transition from head to body, or presence of a "neck". It can be hard to tell from some angles if the head has the arrowhead shape indicating pit viper. The best way to tell from these off angles is the distinct narrowing where the head stops and the body begins.

copper head banding can vary significantly. a few years back I posted a pic of a melanistic copperhead. Nearly all charcoal grey and black. Here is another variation.





The above shows a northern water snake and a cotton mouth. Just look at banding and tail shape.

Look him in the eye.
If the pupils are elliptical...copperhead.
If they're round...non-venemous.
Let us know.

Also, please realize it can still bite for an hour or so even if head is severed. Use a shovel and place the head in something it can't bite through.

Be careful. Better safe than sorry.

Woodpiles do tend to be a draw for copperhead from what I have heard.

quote:

Originally posted by ffips:
Something to consider from a different angle:

In the event you are bitten and require anti venom, each vial costs $10,000.00 to $14,000.00 and it usually takes two (2) or more vials.

So, joining the leave it alone camp allows the pocketbook to stay out of the mix too.

^^^^ THIS ^^^^

Went to the local zoo and the zoo keeper in the reptile area gave a lecture on venomous snake bites. Typically 30-60K price tag. That's for a rattlesnake bite (the only venomous snake in my neck of the woods). Not cheap. If you get bit on the hand you're also going to have a fight with your insurance company. They will claim you were playing with the snake.

What John Wayne said about Indians.

Put me in the Copperhead camp. That head is too big compared to the body to be non-venomous.

quote:

Originally posted by Micropterus:


If you do that with this snake, PLEASE make a video of you doing it.

It's not really much drama. Stick underneath, take the tail, flop them into the box or bag. Agressive ones are easy to handle with a corn broom and a stick. Most don't get that excited.

quote:

Originally posted by sigarms229:

quote:

It's now dead but there were two.

Good choice. I agree with others that it was a Copperhead. We very similar ones where I grew up.

As others stated if in your yard, that one dies. Black snakes, garter snakes get to live....

I agree Copperhead dies the others can slide

Copperhead, I agree.

It is a venomous snake and can harm a person or pet.

If it was close to my house I'd get rid of it, either by relocating it or if no other option, dispatching it.

They are good to have to kill off vermin... but they can be dangerous, especially the baby ones. The adult ones can regulate how much venom per bite, and often "dry bite" giving no venom. The baby snakes give ya a full dose every time...

Dead.

Truly a copperhead, and if he was in my yard, BANG!!, dead copperhead.

Says the man who klobberized a rattlesnake on Hatteras Island while in government housing with a neighbor being the ranger.

Take no prisoners when it comes to poisonous snakes.