It is snake season in our area. And we continue to get calls, even the occasional frantic call, “oh my gosh, I think I have a northern copperhead in my bathroom”. Well, to be honest, it’s probably not a northern copperhead, most likely it is a northern water snake or even an eastern milk snake. Every year we get a handful of phone calls with this frightening mistaken identity. I thought I would take a few moments and walk you through the distinct characteristics of the northern copperhead and how you can quickly differentiate them from the northern water snake or milk snake.
The average size of a mature northern copperhead is 2 to 3 feet in length. Some may reach up to 4 feet in length. The Copperhead gets its name from the copper-red color of the top of its head, similar to the color of a penny. The body of the northern copperhead is generally a light tan to reddish-tan, with dark brown to reddish-brown bands. These bands are hourglass shaped, being thinner across the spine and wider on the sides of the snake. The inside of the hourglass pattern is usually lighter on the sides of the body. There may often be one or two darker brown marks between the bands on the back of the body, and one inside the bands on the sides of the body. These marks are not as obvious as the banding, and are many times fainter in color or non-existent.
The northern copperhead can typically be found in wood slab piles, sawdust piles, rock piles and brush piles created by land clearing, or along utility rights of way. These areas provide foraging, basking and sheltering habitat. In addition, abandoned farms, auto junkyards and foundations of barns or old homesteads, especially those with brushy fields and old fencerows, provide prime habitat for northern copperheads and their prey. During the warm months they may occupy a variety of habitats such as emergent wetlands, areas along streams and upland areas. The northern copperhead is diurnal. However, when daytime air temperatures soar during the summer, they become nocturnal.
Northern copperhead mating occurs in the late spring or early fall. The female northern copperhead, like many reptiles, can store sperm for long period of time. However, ovulation takes place only in the spring. Thus, several males may successfully mate with a single female. As a result, multiple paternities often occur within a single litter. Young snakes are usually born near the overwintering site during September and October. They range from eight to 10 inches long. A typical litter is 4 to 7 young. The northern copperhead young are ovoviviparous. This means that the newborns are encased in a membrane when they are expelled from the female, instead of hatching from an egg. They break through the membrane to begin life as fully functional, miniature versions of their parents. They also possess fangs and venom at birth. Shedding the skin occurs within a few days of birth.
Northern Copperheads typically eat small rodents, small birds, small insects, lizards and frogs.
The two most distinct ways of determining whether or not what you have encountered is a northern copperhead or not is the following:
- The eyes of the northern copperhead will be vertically slitted, elliptical pupils that appear similar to those of a house cat in bright light vs. the northern water snake or eastern milk snake that will have round pupils just like a human.
- The head of the northern copperhead is broad and triangular in shape vs. the northern water snake or eastern milk whose head is more variable and often slender.
- The northern copperhead will have a distinct pit between the eye and nostril vs. the northern water snake or eastern milk which will not.
If you are interested in learning more about the venomous or non venomous snakes found in our area, please check out the August newsletter on our website at https://wildlifebusters.com/category/newsletter/. And for some handy tips on how to reduce the risk of a snake encounter occurring, please visit a previous blog at https://wildlifebusters.com/black-rat-snakes/
If you are experiencing a nuisance wildlife issue and require assistance with raccoon removal, squirrel removal, woodchuck removal, bat removal, bird removal, snake removal or skunk removal, give Wildlife Busters a call toll free at 855-945-1212 and we will resolve your wildlife management issue professionally, efficiently and humanely. Please note that all of our wildlife exclusion services come with a 1 to 5 year warranty, which can be extended upon expiration with one of our long-term prevention plans. Please give us a call or check out our website for more information.
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