If the pattern doesn't extend and is just kind of floating in the middle of the snake's back, you're likely dealing with a non-venomous look alike. Parents and guardians can also benefit from the peace of mind when passing this knowledge to their children so that they, too, can learn how to keep a keen eye when going out for a walk. The North Carolina Cooperative Extension notes that the copperhead accounts for more snake bites in the United States each year than any other U.S. species. Copperheads are also often mixed up with non-venomous watersnakes, ratsnakes or cornsnakes. Babies are thin for the first three months. Inspect the head of the snake for a triangular shape, copper-red in color. The North Carolina Cooperative Extension notes that the copperhead accounts for more snake bites in the United States each year than any other U.S. species. North Carolina Snakes That Live Near Water. Many people get them confused with water moccasins or cottonmouths, which like the copperhead, are also pit vipers. Copperhead snakes have a primary coloration that ranges between beige and brown. Copperhead bites have the potential to be very painful, but thankfully, they aren't usually deadly. The snake uses the tail as a means to catch prey: When snakes are hidden away, it might even resemble a wiggling bug. Copyright © 2020 Happy Serpent. These repellents use a snake's sense of smell to deter it but use caution where children and pets will be present. Here are some of the most important things you should know about baby copperhead snakes and how to handle them when you spot them. Contrary to another popular urban legend, copperheads don't travel in pairs, but you might very well find more than one (or even a lot) in a small area after they're born. Together with this, you can expect to see hourglass markings over the body. Pythons and Boas are totally safe to handle and are no danger to humans. Even though corn snakes are common everywhere, they are not the only type of snake that is often confused with a baby copperhead. Chances are they will leave you alone and slither away. Your email address will not be published. If you leave them alone, chances are they will leave you alone too. Juvenile copperhead snakes are more likely to appear during the later half of the year. Think you’re 100% ready to identify a copperhead vs. one of their lookalikes? Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix) is a term that refers to any of five different subspecies of venomous snakes found mostly in the southern United States. That said, there are other tropical snakes like Pythons and Boas that have spade-shaped heads. This is because copperhead mating tends to happen during these months. You can also take steps to making your property less snake-friendly. Electronic repellents, a more expensive option, can be placed in a problem area and produce a 45-foot radius ground vibration. An increasing amount of research points to the fact that baby copperhead snake bites are no more dangerous than that of an adult. A lot of snakes in the US have a brownish color, hence the difficulty identifying copperheads with an untrained eye. So, they are commonly mistaken for other species. Short grass and well controlled vegetation will make your yard less appealing to copperheads. Copperhead snakes are common in large parts of the United States. Hi James, you can identify baby Copper heads by their color, and their color is greyish, 8-10 inches in length. The same way, sometimes copperhead snakes can be mistaken for these entirely harmless snakes. They are most likely to be encountered in Missouri, Arkansas, North Carolina, Tennessee, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Kentucky, West Virginia, Texas, and Georgia. As for prevention, there are several steps you can take to reduce the likeliness of seeing them on your property. A baby copperhead has a distinctive bright-yellow tip at the end of its tail, up to 1 inch long. Inspect the body of the snake. "They are definitely responsible for the large number of snake bites.". This is the stuff of nightmares. A bite could lead to permanent tissue and nerve damage or even worse. Comment below and tell us if you still have questions about spotting one of these venomous snakes that often turn up in our back yards. You have 4 free articles remaining this month, Sign-up to our daily newsletter for more articles like this + access to 5 extra articles. "They've always been greatly feared, and I think it's mostly because they are the only venomous snake around," Boyce explained. Treat them with the same amount of respect you would an adult snake. Lynn has worked as a publicist and also in photo layout. You are likely to spot a copperhead baby closer to habitats where they are found naturally. The copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix) snake is a venomous snake found throughout North America. If you have snakes, there is a chance you have a rodent problem too. Sometimes, more or less the same description can be used for several different types of snakes. Basically, you're looking to eliminate cover. You can make your own yard unattractive to snakes simply by eliminating the rodents via the typical mouse/rat trapping methods. It’s just not worth trying to remove them yourself if you don’t know what you’re doing. It's baby copperhead season for many parts of North America. If you have children, make sure their toys are picked up when they're not using them. This species of snake is technically a type of viper, and fall under the same family as rattlesnakes and pit vipers. This species reproduces in the spring and typically gives birth between late August and early September. Be aware of bushes, rocks, flowerpots, electrical boxes, wood piles, coiled garden hoses and other typical things you might find in yards in suburban areas that might serve as cover for serpents.