Though not as venomous as other species, the copperhead snakes cause the majority of bite in the US. The copperhead can be recognized by the stout form and the clear distinction between the neck and the rest of the body but the cross bands that represent the overall pattern make classification possible too. Copperhead snakes have pale bellies, very close to the background, but their look could also turn whitish on occasions. The crown on the snake's head is only marked by a pair of little dark spots, but there is also a rather discolored stripe on the head area behind the eyes; this stripe looks very diffuse on top but it gets brownish towards the edges.
Copperhead snakes live in all sorts of habitats, from rocks and pond areas to woods and stream shores. The choice of the abode is dictated by the presence of prey, as copperhead snakes eat birds, frogs, mice, cicadas, caterpillars and other small animals they manage to hunt. Among the best hide-outs for copperhead snakes, ,wood piles, stone slabs, walls, debris and abandoned or ruined buildings are the most common which explains the chances of a human face to face encounter in such areas. Copperhead snakes will be active from March to October, with a hibernation period in the cold autumn and winter months.
The dens in which copperhead snakes retreat during winter are their homes year after year, and usually there are bigger nests counting more individuals in hibernation. In summer time when it is too hot outside, the copperhead snakes will stay in cooler areas during the day and use the cover of the night to hunt. On pleasantly warm days, this snake will lie in the sun on higher locations. Copperhead snakes do not hatch eggs, but give birth to their siblings alive, and their number ranges between one and fourteen, usually born till October.
The bites of copperhead snakes require immediate medical care since they have the risk of permanent scarring accompanying really unbearable pain. Avoid copperhead snakes when you come across them, as many people get injured when threaten the snakes by maneuvers or hunting attempts. Snakes will not harm you unless they sense danger, then, you will become the victim of a fierce attack by a creature that is just as afraid of us as we are of them. Studies reveal that copperhead snakes have the highest incidence in bite frequency in the United States, because these snakes attack immediately without giving threatening warnings like other species.
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