Copper Head in the water

[dex3361]

Copperheads any good to eat?

I don't know, I don't feel much like eating after I run across one. It kinda turns my stomach.

 

[Low Bucket]

I was brush cutting today because I always seem to see a copper head or two around this time of year. I guess they come down close to the water to dine. I saw this one stretched out in the water as I was going by on the tractor. This one was about +or- 27" long. He even posed for a pic.

That's a big copperhead.- Adults typically range in length from 26 to 42 inches.

Is that the only one you seen in the area where that one was?- My dad always told me if you see a copperhead look around for another one.- About half the time that has been true.

I would rather see a rattlesnake than a copperhead, because the rattlesnake will warn you that he/she is there, but the copperheads just lay there and wait to bite.

An old woman in her 70's went in her hen house to get the eggs one evening, and a copperhead was laying behind the door, and it bit her on the ankle.- It made her very sick and she just about lost her foot.

I kill every copperhead and rattlesnake I see on my property.- But I won't kill blacksnakes.

 

[dex3361]

That's a big copperhead.- Adults typically range in length from 26 to 42 inches.

Is that the only one you seen in the area where that one was?- My dad always told me if you see a copperhead look around for another one.- About half the time that has been true.

I would rather see a rattlesnake than a copperhead, because the rattlesnake will warn you that he/she is there, but the copperheads just lay there and wait to bite.

An old woman in her 70's went in her hen house to get the eggs one evening, and a copperhead was laying behind the door, and it bit her on the ankle.- It made her very sick and she just about lost her foot.

I kill every copperhead and rattlesnake I see on my property.- But I won't kill blacksnakes.

I have an old picture of when I was laying the block for the foundation of the house about 20 some odd years ago and I cut the head off of a copperhead that I just about stepped on. It was laying just past the threshold of the door. I had never seen a copperhead that big it was a bit over 42" and the pic has it laying beside a yard stick. I will see if I can dig it up and post it. I kill all poisonous snakes. If I saw a rattlesnake near the house I would kill it as well. Any other snake is safe. Well as long as it doesn't imitate a poisonous snake in any way shape or form. Then it would be a case of mistaken identity and destruction would follow.

 

[heehaw]

when i was working, i was out on a lot of back roads: i use to stop an bring home every king snake i saw crossing the road: several years ago i found out opossums are immune to snake bite an eat poisonious snakes, have avoided running over them ever since...even if it means stopping in the road to let them by.
heehaw

 

[dex3361]

when i was working, i was out on a lot of back roads: i use to stop an bring home every king snake i saw crossing the road: several years ago i found out opossums are immune to snake bite an eat poisonious snakes, have avoided running over them ever since...even if it means stopping in the road to let them by.
heehaw

My new favorite animal, the opossum.:thumbsup:
I will refer to them as a WV mongoose.:laughing::laughing:

 

[rjkobbeman]

I can't find him.??

Where is he.??

I can't either. Glad we don't have a problem with them or I would proabably be dead! ... Or maybe I just don't see them!

 

[dex3361]

Ran across these pics from August, 1983 back when I killed the largest copperhead that I have ever seen. This was the day I was laying the last of the block for the foundation of the house that we were building. I almost stepped on it because it was stretched across the doorway of the foundation, it was only by the grace of God watching out for me. So here are the photos and the snake is without a head. Same snake in both photos and that is a red full 36" yard stick. I am holding the snake and I am 6'2" tall.

 

[bullbreaker]

Here's a small cottonmouth(aka=wm) I killed months ago on road in front of house.
Boone

 

[herd]

Last Saturday my brother was fixing a water leak. He reached down in a hole to move some dirt he couldn't remove with shovel and something bit him. He thought it was a snake but wasn稚 sure. After trying to get what ever it was from the hole with the shovel he decided to flood the hole with water and a Copper Head came out. After removing the head from the snake my dad rushed him to the hospital that was about 30 minutes away. He stopped twice at two different fire stations for help and both didn't have a clue except we'll call an ambulance. Dad told both too call a head and have the police stay out of his way. He said he had his Camry going about 110 mph with no interference from the law. The hospital kept him over night to make sure no internal bleeding and gave him four vials of antivenom. In the end everything is ok, he may loose the end of his finger where the bit occurred. He's not sure at this point.

We learned a lot about venomous creatures talking to the doctor. He said Copper Heads and Black Widows(we have an abundance of these) are not life threatening and don't risk injury too yourself or others rushing to the hospital. On the other hand he said get in ASAP when the bite is any kind of Rattler.

I think the doctor is right in general terms but, a neighbor of mine was bitten last Sept by a copperhead right outside his back door. Within a few minutes, he began turning blue and they called in a medevac to fly him out to the hospital. Turned out that one of the fang's punctured the main artery in his lower leg and the venom was expedited to the heart.

As far as copperheads not moving and not giving warnings, that's their nature. They will "play possum" hoping you think they're dead and will leave them alone. Dumb move, who's going to leave one alone if you see him. But ,nobody said you have to be smart to be deadly.

I have encountered copperheads and canebrakes at my place more this summer than ever. I have killed them in every month of the year. I don't kill non-poisonous one, esp big black snakes; they get big by eating other snakes.

As far as copperheads and water, my daddy always referred to the copperhead as a "highlands moccassin." All snakes will go to water in periods of drought.

 

[WayneB]

Holly crap and to think I complain about the snow and cold weather...nothing like having those darn snakes around.

We have some grass snakes, black racers and they speak about rattle snakes, but I have never seen one nor do I care to see one.

Wayne