Dangerous Copperhead Snake Spotted On W&OD Trail Near Reston

An alarming sighting on the Washington & Old Dominion Trail not far from Reston shows why you need to be careful while hiking. The W&OD Trail's Facebook page posted a picture of a venomous copperhead snake that was spotted near the Luck Stone Quarry overlook in Ashburn.

"You don't see many of these on the trail, but this copperhead was spotted near the Luck Stone quarry overlook," the posting reads. "Beautiful, but venomous, so beset to admire them from a distance."

A user replied to the post stating that she saw one at mile point 13.5 last week, which is near Hunter Mill Road.

Copperhead snakes are a species of venomous snakes that are endemic to Eastern North America. They are a member of the pit viper family. It is an ambush predator that prefers to avoid humans, but will sometimes "freeze" when encountered and may bite an unsuspecting person stepping on or near them.

Even when they do bite, it's often a "dry bite" with no venom. But if it does inject venom, it will result in extreme pain, swelling, and severe nausea. It requires immediate medical attention, although bites are rarely fatal.

Photo by Greg Hume