Maggie Valley

Blue skies and warm breezes seem to be calling Carolinians outdoors, where social distancing is comfortable and masks, optional. As we enjoy the beauty of our state, it’s important to remember that other species inhabit the same space as humans and can pose a serious threat to our safety if not treated with care and respect. The copperhead snake (“copperheads�?) is one of these threats in North Carolina.

Is It a Copperhead? Here’s How To Tell Is that coil curled up near your compost heap really a copperhead? Sometimes, young rat snakes (also very common in North Carolina back yards) resemble copperheads. Juvenile rat snakes have bold, blotched patterns, and become the familiar “black snake�? when they grow into adults. To avoid confusion, look at the head.

The copperhead gets its name, unsurprisingly, from its copper-colored head. It has a light brown, orange or pink body highlighted by dark brown bands which form a series of hourglass shapes across its back. Immature copperheads look very much like the adult, though they sometimes have bright yellow or green tails.

Copperheads have distinctly heart-shaped heads . They pit vipers, meaning that they have a heat sensory structure (or pit) between their eyes and nostrils. These pits help locate and accurately strike their prey.

Is Your Yard a Copperhead Buffet? Copperheads feed on rodents, frogs, lizards, snakes, small birds, and cicadas. The best way to reduce the number of copperheads in your yard is to eliminate their food source. Control the rodent population by properly storing food for bird feeders, chicken coops, and pets in airtight containers. If you have fruit trees, nut trees, or vegetable gardens, pick the food as it ripens. Utilize techniques to make compost piles less attractive to rodents.

The Cicadas Are Coming But what about the cicadas coming soon to many parts of Western North Carolina? 2020 is the year that millions of cicadas will emerge from underground for their once-every-17-year mating cycle. Cicadas are clumsy when mating, and many creatures in the forest will indulging in the once-in-every-17-years feast .

You can’t do much to eliminate this easy source of copperhead food! Instead, note the risk ahead of time. Because cicadas emerge from the ground and climb trees, be aware that copperheads may congregate around the base of the tree to feed.

How To Safely Coexist with Copperheads It is nearly impossible to completely remove copperheads from your space. You will have to safely coexist. Copperheads aren’t aggressive snakes, and they’ll usually bite only when they feel threatened. But because of copperheads’ amazing camouflage, their strategy of holding totally still when they sense danger and their tendency to strike almost as soon as they feel cornered, their bites usually happen before the victim knows that the copperheads are there.

But some simple steps can reduce the possibility of encountering a copperhead. Before allowing children to go outside and play, put on boots and walk around the yard. Stomp around loudly. They’ll feel your vibrations in the ground, slither away, and keep their distance.

Can you spot the copperhead hiding in the leaf debris? (Image: Jodie Owen, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission ) If you need to pick up brush or debris, use a long stick to poke the area first. If you cannot clearly see the ground in front of you, the area is not safe. Keep your yard mowed, and keep any rock or wood piles away from house. As cicadas emerge, avoid areas around trees at night.

Despite all of the fears and dangers associated with copperheads, it is important to remember that they benefit North Carolina ecosystems. They are beautiful snakes that have an important role in controlling the rodent population. As the rodent population decreases, so does the disease-carrying tick population. Interestingly, an enzyme in copperhead venom has been discovered to inhibit the growth of cancer cells. Scientists are studying it further for future medicine, especially for its effects on Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.

What Should You Do If You Encounter a Copperhead? Take three steps back and walk away. Don’t try to remove the snake yourself. And don’t make the mistake of assuming baby copperheads are less dangerous than the larger adults. Babies are born live, and they emerge fully equipped with both fangs and venom.

Copperheads are as anxious to avoid meeting you as you are to avoid them. Learn more about their habits, and respect their place in your yard and our ecosystem. Now go outside and enjoy the beauty that is North Carolina.

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