Copperheads

[petmoosie]

My neighbor just alerted me to the risk of copperheads in our neighborhood. With the heavy rains, and our nearby river, they are getting flooded out of their 'dens' and are trying to get to a smaller stream. This is also the time when baby copperheads are born (late summer, early fall).

Comments

[geekmom.livejournal.com]

I think they usually stick to wooded areas and don't bother with the communal dens except during winter. But they are usually active after rains, so watch out.

[petmoosie.livejournal.com]

Now is definitely after a rain.

[petmoosie.livejournal.com]

You are right about the 'den' time of year. My source is not very knowledgeable, but likes to tell everyone what to do and how to do it. :-( Wikipedia and other sources confirmed your information.

[geekmom.livejournal.com]

Yeah, snakes bring that out, heh. My dad used to be president of the state herpetological society, and I was raised around catching and releasing local snakes. I think I'm one of the few kids who proudly presented their father a live rattlesnake and was told "good job." I'll temper that by saying we were out looking for snakes, I'd been trained on how to safely handle them, and we had snake sacks and snake sticks with us, so it wasn't like I just grabbed one at random. (In fact, I highly don't recommend doing that, since that's how most people are bitten.)

I don't like the ability copperheads have to blend in with their surroundings. Dang things are nearly invisible on a pile of wood chips or fall leaves. However, they're usually not aggressive, so just be mindful of where you step when you're in wilderness. And wear hiking boots not sandals. I wouldn't worry too much about them being in your backyard, unless it butts up with some woods or something. Even then, they tend to avoid populated areas if they can.

The snake I would worry about finding with high water is the common watersnake. Those things are super aggressive. Not poisonous, but just mean.

Ha! Stupid spellchecker. Herpetological society, not hematological!

[petmoosie.livejournal.com]

We don't back up on the woods, but she does. I had no idea when we moved here that the difference between an even number and an odd number would mean so much. No one on the even side can have a compost pile, because the foxes get in. They have to cover any plants with netting since the deer get in. We have an odd number, so we have a lot less wildlife. Still some wildlife like the snake from the spring.

[ashtalet.livejournal.com]

Ooh - make sure you get pictures of cute baby copperheads! :-) Seriously, though, if you leave them alone, they'll leave you alone.