Centers for Disease prevention estimate that between 7,000 and 8,000 people are bit by venomous snakes every year. Copperheads are responsible for the most injuries than other snake that venoms.
Copperhead baby bites can be extremely painful However, less than 0.01 percent of them can cause death.
In a small percentage of cases, anti-venom is required for neutralization of the venom however infants, those over the age of and those with weak immune systems are most at risk of complications.
Most bites are caused by people stepping over their own or picking up.
In this article, we’ll show you seven simple ways to recognize this snake, and how you can safely get rid of them, and how to stop them from entering your backyard.
How to Find The Baby Copperhead
The internet is full of myths about snakes with venom.
The most popular myth is that young people are unable to control their venom, and thus bite in a more force than adults. This is not the case!
Copperheads who are babies possess smaller venom glands and thus have the least amount of venom. However, they’re nevertheless capable of metering the venom changing the amount of poison they inject depending on the size of their targets.
Another myth states that all poisonous snakes (20 most venomous snakes) are triangular in their heads.
Pit vipers have triangular head shapes as it is required to house their glands for venom. Many snakes with no venom imitate this look by flattening their heads as well as extend their jaws.
Additionally, many snakes have extremely narrow heads, yet are poisonous. One good illustration can be found in The Coral Snake. These snakes are second deadliest in the world!
To help you spot the snake, we’ve come up with seven simple steps you can follow.
1. Take a look at their tail-tip color
A lot of baby copperhead snakes have been born with bright green or yellow the tip of their tail.
The bright hue can be used to draw and lure predators to come close enough to strike. This assists babies to find food quickly and grow rapidly.
Usually after one year their tails will change into a dark dark brown or even to black.
2. Find an hourglass pattern
They have a light pinkish-tan hue and their heads have stunning copper-toned ( giving them their name).
Copperheads are characterized by a distinctive pattern that is consistent for the duration of their lives.
The markings on their bodies have a dark brown appearance. They have thin bands along their spines and expand when they reach those sides. When seen at a higher angle, this pattern looks like dark-colored hourglasses. If seen by the side it appears similar to a row chocolate candy candies.
Its belly appears white, with darker brownish red spots.
3. They have facial Pits
Copperheads are part of the family of pit vipers.
Pit vipers possess two heat sensors both sides of their face , between the nostril and the eye.
Pit glands assist snakes find their prey and also thermoregulate.
The eyesight of snakes is often poor. Without these glands, hunting for prey with motion alone would be extremely difficult. The ability to sense heat allows them to view the world through far-infrared.
Pits can be seen when you look closely at pictures. However you’ll need to go up close to the copperhead’s baby in order to see the pits.
4. They are vertical (Slitted) Pupils
The majority of snakes that venom are recognized by the “cat-eye” pupils.
The pupils are slit horizontally contrary to round pupils of snakes with no venom.
They are characterized by golden-yellow eyes and an elongated black pupil that is slit in the middle.
Although beautiful to behold They are best appreciated by taking a photo.
5. Do They have Keeled Scales?
Keeled scales are scales that have been raised which provide snakes with a rough texture. They have an apex in the middle which creates an elevated triangle.
Most snakes with venom have scales with keeles.
It is sometimes difficult to discern whether a snake has scales that have keeled without touching.
If you do not have the appropriate instruction on handling snakes with venomous bites, It isn’t advised to handle.
It is better to look at their patterns and tail as well as other features that are visible from an in-depth distance.
6. Do They Have A Short Yet Thicker Body Type?
As with most snakes that venom, this snake has a small but a hefty body.
Baby copperheads typically measure 7 to 10 inches tall and adults can reach 24 to 36 inches.
Babies are thin during the first 3 months. After a consistent food source is identified the baby’s weight increases rapidly and are able to build a strong body.
A 24 inch copperhead could be as large as the circle that forms when you put your thumb and pointer finger together.
7. Find Post-Vent Scutes
This method of identification is best left to professionals since it’s extremely difficult ( and never recommended) to turn a snake that could be dangerous over and look at its tail.
Most snakes get agitated and attempt to strike when you flip them.
But, it is the only way to recognize a newborn copperhead.
Scutes are long, straight scales that run along the belly of snakes and aid in locomotion..
In nonvenomous snakes, the scutes following the vent are split into twopieces, creating the appearance of a “zipper” appearance. In snakes with venom there is only one extended scales that run that extend beyond the vent.
Snakes commonly mistaken for Copperheads
The United States has over 125 species of snakes. They are frequently mistaken with copperheads due to their appearance like each other. The most popular looksalikes are:
| Similar Snakes | |
|---|---|
| Judicial Eastern Rat Snake | The species is usually black and gray with large spots across the spine. This is not the same as the hourglass pattern that is described above. |
| Juvenile Black Racer | Juvenile black racers look exactly like the eastern ratsnakes (above). They are darker in gray and darker brownish spots. |
| Northern Water Snake | The species can be distinguished by their dark and thick spinal bands as well as their thin dark bands toward the belly. Water Snakes could be able to have dark bands totally broken too. |
| Eastern Hognose | Hognoses are small, heavy-bodied snakes that are completely harmless. They are available in a variety of colors, but they are characterized by a jumbled, chaotic design that differs from the regular pattern that is above. |
| Cornsnake | Cornsnakes typically have bright red and orange hues and have large spine spots. These spots don’t touch with the edges of your belly, which is different from the hourglass above. |
| Juvenile Mole King Snake | Mole Kings typically have gray or tan colors as their base color, and dark reddish-brown spots that cover their spines. As they age, they become almost completely brown. |
It is now possible to recognize and avoid assuming other snakes as this species.
It’s time to eliminate and prevent this snake from entering your yard.
How To Remove Safely Baby Copperheads
You’ve found an animal in your yard and determined it’s a Copperhead What’s next?
If it’s at the edges of your yard, it is likely to move along without any intervention. Therefore, be aware or move away.
The majority of snakes are just traveling through.
If, however, it requires to be relocated or you feel more at ease knowing that the snake isn’t in your yard , then follow this guideline.
Use Hooks
If you are within Copperhead country, it’s beneficial to purchase snake-handling equipment.
It is the most safest and least hazardous method to manage the snake. The hook should be at minimum three feet long or longer to create an “safe zone” between you and the snake.
To hook it use a gentle pull on the end with a pointed tip and then place it in to the center of the infant copperhead.
Get the snake lifted up fast enough to make it in a position to not slide off.
They’re often spotted as being fickle with hooks. It could aid in gently vibrating the hook in order to make them desire to stay on.
Put the snake into the tub or bucket of a large size for it to be moved to the desired spot.
If the snake continues to slide away from its hooks, it might be necessary to employ the clamp stick.
You can also use a clamp (Grab) Or Use A Clamp (Grab)
Grab sticks are extremely effective in grabbing the snake and securing it.
Grab sticks function similar to how a garbage grabber does, but it features a more snake-friendly clamp. The handle comes with an electronic trigger which is linked to a pulley which closes the clamp.
To grab the snake:
- Slide the bottom end of the clamp into the the body of snake.
- Slowly, but with a firm grip, tighten your clamp tightly around the snake.
- Be careful not to squeeze the clamp too much or too fast because this could cause damage to the snake’s back or the ribs.
- Once it is secured, you can then move it, or place to a container to ensure secure relocation.
Avoid grabbing the neck or tail area using a hook or clamp! If you handle a snake in these areas could result in damage to the neck or spine that can permanently harm or cause death to.
Alternative Tools to Utilize
If you’re surprised to see a tiny copperhead in your yard and you don’t possess a hook, or a grab sticks, you have other equipment you could use.
Find an extended (3 plus feet) object to take the snake off with.
The trick is to keep an appropriate distance and not injure the snake.
One alternative is using a shovel to scoop the snake and then place it in the bucket. This will give you ample area to build a secure space within the area around the snake.
If the snake continues to slither away from you before you can put the snake into a bucket you can use your shovel and gently force the snake inside an upside down bucket. With the shovel, you can turn the bucket upside down to lock your snake within.
You may also place it into buckets, if it’s lying placed on a smooth surface. The key here is to create a three-foot space between yourself with the snake.
There are signs that a Copperhead is stressed
This snake will coil up when stressed.
Moving and relocating the snake is stressful.
Copperheads could react in various ways when they are feeling at risk.
The recognition of these signs will inform you if the snake is most likely to bite or requires an opportunity to calm down:
- Coiled to the top with a shake of their tails.
- Experimenting with.
- Slithering around.
- Hissing or mouth breathing.
- Musking (releasing the release of a strong smelly substance).
If you observe that the snake is showing any of these signs, they might bite. Remain calm and give the snake some time to settle down before trying to capture it again.
How to stop Copperheads from entering your Yard
The most effective way to rid yourself of Copperheads is to stop them from settling in your yard in any way.
The snakes prefer to remain hidden. The primary factor stopping them from entering your lawn is your grass.
If you allow your lawn to grow, snakes will feel more secure.
A well-groomed lawn can deter snakes from attempting to move through it. If you do happen to come into contact with a poisonous snake, it’s likely to cause a lot of damage.
The people who find snakes repeatedly in their yard usually unintentionally provided them with housing through allowing their grass to grow.
To snake-proof your yard:
- Take a walk around the outside of your home and search for any holes that they could be able to (they seek cool, dark spots to shelter from the summer heat).
- Fill any gaps or holes. They will be prevented from nesting within your home.
- Brush and leaves.
- A lot of people overlook the bushes while working in their yard because they are prone to cover the underbrush that accumulates underneath them. The issue? The brush everywhere is the perfect hiding spot.
If you find that you’re still seeing more snakes than you can count after employing these methods, you can try physical repellents. The most efficient is a snake fence way to deter snakes because they stop snakes from entering your backyard at all, but they’re not foolproof.
Avoid using commercial traps since they’re typically not successful with the crushed mechanism may seriously injure the snake. These traps are cruel and not recommended.
Summary
Copperhead bites aren’t necessarily fatal, but they are painful. They may take weeks to heal and can require costly anti-venom treatments.
The best method to avoid bites is to stay clear of the bite completely.
Being able to identify this species will allow you to know the right time to act. If you recognize the snake as a baby copperhead, be sure to be sure to keep your feet in a away from danger!
If you are trying to get rid of them, be sure to make use of secure techniques and equipment such as hooks shovels or grab sticks.
Be gentle and know it is equally stressed and anxious as. Slow movement will keep them relaxed.
Finally, you must stop the birds from settling in your yard by maintaining an attractive lawn that is well-maintained by removing any debris and filling in holes.
Do you think you’ve identified the snake? Are you confident enough to get rid of the snake?
Tell us what you are feeling about it in the comments!
