resident copperheads

[WritinginCT]

There were lots of copperheads sunning themsleves on a log when we had lunch at Manassas Gap shelter. However, there was also a group of boy scouts, under encouragement from their troop "leader" smashing them all with large rocks (despite the facts that the snakes were nowhere near the shelter, nor instigating any harm), so I would say maybe the snake problem is a problem no longer, thanks to the industriousness of these nature lovers...

That is just wrong on so many levels. And I am not a snake-lover. But to just kill them for no purpose is obnoxious. And that stupid scout leader is lucky none of the kids got bitten. Moron.

[emerald]

Read How dangerous are copperhead snakes? provided by North Carolina State Univerisity Cooperative Extension to find out. Learn also which state records the most venomous snake bites each year. The answers may be surprising.

[Dogwood]

There were lots of copperheads sunning themsleves on a log when we had lunch at Manassas Gap shelter. However, there was also a group of boy scouts, under encouragement from their troop "leader" smashing them all with large rocks (despite the facts that the snakes were nowhere near the shelter, nor instigating any harm), so I would say maybe the snake problem is a problem no longer, thanks to the industriousness of these nature lovers...

Ignorance, fear, and a lethal weapon R a dangerous combination! Even worse, is teaching that this combination is acceptable to others!

[Smile]

Well put

[johnnybgood]

Read How dangerous are copperhead snakes? provided by North Carolina State Univerisity Cooperative Extension to find out. The answer may surprise you.

Shades of Gray I enjoyed reading this article and can attest to their quick strike ability. In 2002 my wife was bitten my a copperhead at a local park that we frequently visit. We were not watching our footsteps and she was bitten on the ankle by an adult copperhead. She was given antivenom in the E.R. but not until 6 hours after arriving.... This is common practice according to the medical doctor that treated my wife. It seems the antivenom has its own negatives affecting the patients blood pressure and other issues .

[joshua5878]

People often mis-identify snakes as being a copperhead or rattlesnake when they are more likley a northern brown snake or garter.

Look a lot like Copperheads. They are also located in GA, NC & SC

This is a Brown Water Snake

[MoBill122]

I have seen both Brown water snakes and Banded water snakes killed in Georgia by people who thought they were copperheads. Its a shame when people kill harmless snakes.

[OldStormcrow]

I have seen both Brown water snakes and Banded water snakes killed in Georgia by people who thought they were copperheads. Its a shame when people kill harmless snakes.

It's a shame that people kill snakes....period.

[Blissful]

I must say that water brown snake looks just like a rattler, and I would not stop on the trail to try and identify it but make tracks fast and far.

[Ramblin' Randy]

I'm with the Rain Man and some others. EVERY shelter should have a snake. I think we'd all like to see the rodent population controlled, and some shelters are crawling with them. I've been hiking for nearly 50 years, and have NEVER been troubled by a snake. Shelter mice, on the other hand, and occasionally Boy Scouts, for that matter, have been a nuisance. What was that leader thinking?

[Rockhound]

There were lots of copperheads sunning themsleves on a log when we had lunch at Manassas Gap shelter. However, there was also a group of boy scouts, under encouragement from their troop "leader" smashing them all with large rocks (despite the facts that the snakes were nowhere near the shelter, nor instigating any harm), so I would say maybe the snake problem is a problem no longer, thanks to the industriousness of these nature lovers...

To any adult involved in scouting. please send out a memo. If a troop leader wishes to take a group of scouts on a camping/hiking trip they will have to be smarter and more mature than the scouts themselves. I've seen scouts tag shelters(troop #xxx was here) cut down live trees for firewood, overtake entire shelter areas at the peak of thru-hiker season, contaminate water sources, throw food into the woods, now there out killing snakes. natural enemy of much more vile creatures, shelter mice. All this with the scout leaders standing idly by. I know it's not all troop leaders or even the majority, but incidents like this do happen and they happen frequently. As a hiker, if I see scouts doing something stupid I wont hesitate to bring it to the attention of the scout leader and feel that others should do the same.

[Rockhound]

It can brought to their attention several different ways.

[Jayboflavin04]

Dont kill the snakes or spiders!!! I hate spiders!!!

Mice and skeeters spread disease. Mice can spread the haunta virus through their poo. Which is more than likely more deadly than the snake is.

First of all leave em alone! All the snakes mentioned(copperheads, rattlers, and cotton mouths) are all members of the pit viper family. If you can get a good enough look at it.T hey are identifiable by a more Triagular head and "bumps/pits" behind the eyes. You can tell the snake in the pic above is 'probably" not venomous by the long slender head. And did I mention just leave em alone!

[Jim Adams]

If you are close enough to notice, copperheads, rattle snakes and cottonmouths all have eliptical pupils and nonpoisonous snakes in North America have round pupils.

geek

[Nearly Normal]

If you are close enough to notice, copperheads, rattle snakes and cottonmouths all have eliptical pupils and nonpoisonous snakes in North America have round pupils.

geek

....and the ones found in my chicken house get there head knocked off with a grubbing hoe.

[emerald]

I must say that water brown snake looks just like a rattler, and I would not stop on the trail to try and identify it but make tracks fast and far.

Not even close and I meant to to say so earlier. Click on timber rattlesnakes below for some photos. There are better photos available in WhiteBlaze's gallery and elsewhere. I would like to call to the attention of readers a timber rattlesnake image from WhiteBlaze's gallery which illustrates both yellow and black color phases. If only a tighter shot existed of the snakes, I'd take the time to crop and enhance it!

My copperheads link with good photos provided by Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) below couldn't be better suited for the purpose.

All Appalachian Trail hikers should know how to identify timber rattlesnakes and copperheads. Both are protected species in Pennsylvania. It is unlawful to hunt, take, catch, or kill timber rattlesnakes encountered on the A.T. where there is no open season. Unless hikers have a permit issued by PFBC, they have no business doing anything with copperheads either other than looking at them.

[Erin]

The only poisonous snake I know that I have stepped over or walked next to on a hike was a copperhead-the person behind be saw it both times. They will not bother you if you do not step on them, try to handle them or harass them. Snakes eat mice. I wish people would leave them alone. They people who I know who have been bitten stepped on them at night on the way to a camp privy or walking across their yard/driveway. The brown water snakes that are often mistaken for copperheads are very aggressive.

[Jayboflavin04]

Good point erin....watch something on discovery. This guy was investigating snake bites in the south east. He carried around a rubber arm and leg. The snakes didnt always bite when he harrased them with his rubber appendages.

[Whiskey Ninja]

Sarver Hollow Shelter has a large "nest" of them living under the fire pit. I have a lot of pics of them. I counted 4 total. There are no mice in the shelter though. I tented and had a large boar come very close to my tent. Almost shat myself. The snakes are harmless if you see them, they do tend to just lay there though and are not inclined to move so if you don't keep your eyes open you could step on one. I moved one off the trail a little ways w/ my hiking pole and he didn't even strike. Then realized there were a bunch more when one slithered out of the rock my foot had just been on. I shined my light into the crack in the rock and saw 2 more.

<a href="http://s149.photobucket.com/albums/s41/jml3482/?action=view&current=DSC03421Large.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s41/jml3482/DSC03421Large.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

[Whiskey Ninja]