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Copperheads and Rattlesnakes { Timber and Pygmy|
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by Puma3 on September 17, 2007
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I have been up here in Cedar Mounyain since the tirst of April and yesterday, I sprained my knee badly searching for snakes. I called 911 and the EMS guys ere talking about snakebites, and I heard them say they haseen 3 Copperhead bites sinse 2000 but no Rattlesnake envomations during that period. What could the reason for this be?
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RE: Copperheads and Rattlesnakes { Timber and Pygm
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by earthguy on September 17, 2007
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Copperheads are generally more abundant than rattlesnakes (not everywhere, but in general). Copperheads are also what I would consider very human habitat friendly in that they can survive in anthropogenic conditions better than most snakes (except for maybe the ratsnakes). These two coditions lead to more copperhead-human interactions than any other venomous snake-human interactions. More interactions = more bites.
And now I will sit back and wait for my anser to be picked aprt ;)
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RE: Copperheads and Rattlesnakes { Timber and Pygm
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by 23bms on September 17, 2007
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Copperheads are much harder to spot than Timbers, hence people are more likely to blunder close enough to suffer an accidental bite. Timbers rarely strike unless stepped on or otherwise grossly molested. While Copperheads generally prefer to hide or remain still, they may occasionally, if closely approached, launch an unexpected strike out of the leaf pocket (or whatever) they're obscured in before diving into the nearest hole or crevice. In fact, the only close call I've had in fifty years of field observations was from a Northern Copperhead under precisely those circumstances.
Once they have been aroused, Copperheads tend to be somewhat more strike prone than Timbers, but there is such a broad spectrum of individual personalities that generalizations are of marginal value.
I am careful to stay out of strike range. Still, I have never had a Timber even try a strike unless it was being temporarily corralled for a photo. Even then it is rare. The same can't be said for Copperheads. As implied in the opening paragraph, the dangerous snake is not the one you see, it's the one you don't see.
The behavioral notes are based on extensive field experience with northern Timbers and the mokasen subspecies of Copperhead. I have had little field experience with populations south of upper Virginia. Also, I am excluding all instances of people trying to catch, kill or molest either of them.
jrb
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RE: Copperheads and Rattlesnakes { Timber and Pygm
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by 23bms on September 17, 2007
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The comment regarding habitat is also valid. Low observability plays a big role in Copperheads surviving, within limits, in many developed areas where rattlers were quickly exterminated.
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