It’s Copperhead Season. Here’s What You Need To Know.

There are many reasons that I despise the summer months.

It’s freaking hot. You sweat. Gas prices go up. It is more crowded everywhere. And, did I mention you sweat, and the temperature gets to hell levels of insanity?

One other thing I hate, despise, loathe, dislike, and abhor about the summer? The snakes come out in full force.

I can deal with a lot of unpleasant things — but snakes are a big NOPE for me.

Unfortunately, I happen to live in an area where one venomous snake in particular, the copperhead, hangs out and flourishes.

If you live in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions of the U.S., you might want to listen up.

That would be anywhere from Texas, up through Illinois, and Indiana, all the way over to the New England area, and south along the Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, and Louisiana borders.

What Do Copperheads Look Like?

Copperheads, as you might garner from the name, have large, triangular shaped copper or brown heads.

The rest of the copperhead body is a mixture of browns and tans, and these colors take on a specific pattern. Some think of it as an hourglass pattern. But, I think they look like big ol’ symmetrical splotches of brown and tan.

The color of these bad boys allow them to almost completely camouflage themselves in brush, among rocks, or around wood piles.

They often show up in yards or gardens, so be on the lookout!

We often find copperhead skins along our rockway that leads up to our garage. That means, the snakes were there, and we didn’t even see them.

There have also been times that we have found baby copperheads in our basement. Eeeep!! That was scary.

Sometimes copperheads are so well hidden that even professionals have trouble locating them.

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Make sure you are very aware of your surroundings, and especially watch out for little kids playing in the yard or in the brush around your property.

Are Copperheads Venomous?

YES!!

The eyes of a copperhead help to identify it as a venomous snake. This snake has yellow eyes with black, vertical pupils. The vertical pupil is a common feature in other venomous snakes. Most non-venomous snakes have round pupils.

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The bite of a copperhead usually requires medical attention. This medical treatment sometimes involves the use of antivenom.

So, if you get bit, you need to seek medical help immediately.

If you were bitten, and can’t tell if it was by a copperhead, get help.

Try to get a picture of the snake, if possible, from a distance. This will help medical professionals get you the right treatment.

How Do Copperheads Attack?

Copperheads are ambush predators, and if you don’t know what that means, just let me school you.

These creepy slithering serpents like to lie in wait for their prey. They will strike and release — allowing the venom to do its job in incapacitating their victims.

Unfortunately, one of the things it can strike and release is a human being.

Keep an eye out for copperheads, big and small, when outside. If you leave them alone, they’ll leave you alone. Copperheads are not aggressive snakes.

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I still wouldn’t play. If you are bit by a copperhead, get help immediately.

Even if you think you will be okay, GET HELP!

What Should You Do If You Find A Copperhead?

First and foremost, don’t play with it.

If you see a copperhead, give it space. Attempting to kill a snake increases your risk of being bitten. Instead, a spray from a garden hose will encourage it to leave.

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It might be prudent to call in backup if the snake is in an area where it might harm people or pets.

There are individuals who will come out and relocate the snake to a more appropriate, unpopulated area.

Things To Avoid If You Are Bit By A Copperhead.

The Cut and Suck method. Contrary to what we see in the movies, cutting and sucking a bite will do no more than introducing bacteria to a wound.

Tourniquets. This will only stop blood flow to the area. Where there is loss of blood, there is tissue injury.

Venom Extraction Devices. These are big in sporting goods and outdoorsy-type stores. Turns out, they don’t really get any venom out of the wound, and they can actually harm you more.

Electrical therapy: I hate that I even need to address this, but enough people recommend this nonsense that I cannot let it go unanswered. Electricity is not the cure for an envenomation. Multiple studies have proven conclusively that “electrical therapy” causes local damage and can kill the victim. It may seem cool in a Tarantino sort of way to connect your friend to a car battery, but please don’t.

BTGSP

Benadryl. Social media has popularized the use of Benadryl on people with snake bites. Benadryl is for allergies, and has absolutely no effect on venom.

Keeping the extremity below heart level. This is something that was taught in the olden days. Keeping the affected extremity below heart level will only increase swelling, and has pretty much no other valuable effect.

Ways To Keep Copperheads Away From Your House.

The good people at Innovative Pest Solutions have some great ideas for keeping copperheads from congregating on your property.

Keep small rodents like mice, rats, and moles at bay around your property by using traps, baits, or other techniques. One thing to consider is feeding other animals near the house — birds, dogs, cats, whatever. Their food can attract rodents, which will attract snakes.

Keep your yard neat and clean. Remove piles of leaves, rocks, trash, and even toys from around the house. This eliminates places for the copperheads to hang out.

Keep bushes pruned and mow down any tall grass that’s around your yard.

Get rid of standing water, and avoid overwatering your yard.

Snake repellants around the home can, and should, be used. This repellent might come in the form of sprays, pellets, or powders.

Wear boots and gloves when working in and around the yard — especially in areas where snakes might hang out or breed. I always make fun of my mom, because she dons cowboy boots and heavy-duty gloves to work in the garden. But, she has the right idea!

Stay safe out there, and avoid those copperheads at all costs!