Nature Note: the Northern Copperhead
By Josh Young

When the average Kentuckian hears the word “snake” they may begin to conjure up thoughts of what might be lurking in the shadows just out of sight. Thoughts of Cobras and huge Pythons they have seen the Crocodile Hunter wrestling around on the television might enter into the mind. Or possibly, a Copperhead might slither into the darkest recesses of the imagination. It is the natural history of this species, the Northern Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen), which we are going to delve into today.

The Northern Copperhead is Kentucky’s most common and widespread species of venomous snake. They can be found statewide, except for the Bluegrass regions of the state, and preferred habitat ranges from mature woodlands to scrubby fields. This snake is not the monster many fear it to be, with an average length of two to three feet; large adults may push four feet. They rely on their cryptic body coloration of light brown to dark grey, with dark brown hourglass patterns across the back for camouflage. The namesake copper-colored head is indeed copper in coloration, and has no other pattern or markings. One unmistakable physical characteristic of the Copperhead is the elliptical shape of the pupils. Kentucky’s venomous snakes, including Copperheads, all have this “cat-like” pupil.

When referring to the Copperhead, many use the term poisonous. However, in reality Copperheads are not poisonous at all. You can eat them for every meal if you so choose. These snakes are actually venomous, meaning they have venom that they are able to inject through fangs (highly specialized and enlarged, syringe-like teeth). Contrary to popular belief, this venom is not meant for defense, although if provoked a Copperhead may strike, and in some cases deliver a nasty bite. Copperheads would much rather lay motionless on the forest floor and use their camouflage instead of fighting. The venom is actually meant to kill prey, which it does quite effectively.

Many a harmless snake has lost its life due to being misidentified as a Copperhead. Most snake encounters I have been told of go something like this. “AHHHHHH SNAAAAKE, IT’S A COPPERHEAD, KILL IT.” The sounds of a shovel, WHAK WHAK WHAK, or the discharge of a firearm, CABOOM, promptly follow these screams as said snake is sent to its maker. In many cases the snake that lost its head was not a Copperhead at all, and was killed mistakenly by a person suffering from the newly discovered illness of “Snake Hysteria.” Personally, I can condone these activities if they are taking place in the back yard where children or pets may be active. However, if a snake is encountered in its natural environment, Copperhead or not, why not let it live to see another day.

Josh Young is a biologist with Kentucky’s Touchstone Energy Cooperatives