When Confronted with a Copperhead: A Guide to Snake Safety

I tend to run at odd hours, whenever time or schedule permits.  Two weeks ago, at the end of a long evening run, I stopped mid-stride, foot in air, looking like an overzealous freeze-tag participant.  Underneath me lay the thick, coiled form of a Copperhead snake. 

Snakes, in general, are not to be feared.  Though venomous, the Copperhead, a member of the pit viper family, is resiliently shy.  Avoiding human contact when possible, this beautiful beast prefers the company of small rodents, a favored (or flavored) delicacy, or seclusion within mixed forests and deciduous woodlands.

The real problem when confronted with copperheads is that they, too, are fond of playing freeze tag.  Unlike other ambush predators, the Copperhead takes stealth rather seriously.  So while I froze above the snake, it eyed me silently, refusing to move for a good fifteen minutes.  To put it simply, when copperheads are in ninja-ambush mode, they look quite dead.  A tempting sight for adventurous children seeking summertime jar specimens. 

The good news is that copperheads use their venom wisely.  Their defense arsenal includes “dry” biting as a cursory warning.  They are also capable of regulating venom dosage according to the situation. Once bitten, a victim’s chances of survival are high.

Please use caution when dealing with all snakes.  Know the difference between venomous and non-venomous species (look for short tail tapering, eye slits, and a distinct, diamond-shaped head) and always keep children informed.  

This month alone, members of my family have spotted three copperheads in Lake Ridge and one cottonmouth (at Mason Neck Wildlife Refuge.)  When outdoors, always play safe.  Sometimes, it’s better not to be “it.”