Natural History of the Copperhead

The southern copperhead, or Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix, is a venomous reptile that is often found in many southern states. These serpents generally reside near swamps and streams, but can occasionally be found in other habitats. During a recent outing to Caw Caw County Park we found a young copperhead under a log (seen in included pictures). This geographic area is consistent with their normal habitats, in that it includes areas that are swamp-like. The copperhead we found appeared to be a juvenile, as it seemed to be of a short length and thin body. We were unable to determine its overall length, as it is a venomous reptile and handling it is very dangerous. This also made it impossible to determine the snakes gender, as a closer examination and measurement of length would be required.The snake appeared to be less than 45 centimeters in overall length, though that number is an estimate.
Upon turning over the log with the rake, the snake exhibited a defensive position. The snake coiled, decreasing exposed body, and kept its head poised towards those who had disrupted its hiding spot. The snake maintained this defensive position until the log was laid back on top of it. Though we maintained a safe distance, it is still an odd feeling standing so close to a venomous snake with a defensive posture.
This was a particularly exciting find for me, as I had never seen a live copperhead in person. I had always wanted to see a live copperhead and to be able to find one on our first field trip was a great surprise. Knowing how to identify them is important both for scientific reasons as well as safety.