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Technically, they are indiginous to NC, but rare. Mostly in swampy areas down east, not the urban areas such as the Triangle. I've lived in Raleigh for 40 years, had a creek behind our house growing up, and have never seen one.
i still say people should just get mongooses (mongeese?) for pets, and let them roam around the backyard.
the article someone posted for me about the venomous snakes of NC mentions the diamond-back rattlesnake... can grow to 8' long, and has 3/4" fangs that can puncture most boots? i mean, i guess it's hard to accidentally step on one of those, but still...
I love it when the snake lovers get on here and claim that Copperheads are shy and non confrontational. I've encountered Copperheads quite a few times (6 or 7 times?) while hiking. I've never seen the snake give its ground easily. Most of the time they lay there or will coil up and wait for you to make the next move. Anyone, especially with small children, that won't kill a copperhead on their property is asking for trouble. While not having the nasty disposition of a Cottonmouth, they are not eager to get out of your way. Non poisonous snakes (Garters, Rat,Milk snakes) have a free pass to roam our gardens and land. Copperheads/Timber Rattlers get the death penalty. Sorry PETA lovers, my kids and dog come first.
Exactly! Saying they "don't want to bother you" is meaningless. If you step on or very close to them, they will strike b/c they feel threatened. As they have no warning (no rattle) and do not slither off like some other snakes, they are quite dangerous. I would rather be around rattlers which will warn you of their presence than around copperheads who will strike with no warning (and are very difficult to see).
Exactly! Saying they "don't want to bother you" is meaningless. If you step on or very close to them, they will strike b/c they feel threatened. As they have no warning (no rattle) and do not slither off like some other snakes, they are quite dangerous. I would rather be around rattlers which will warn you of their presence than around copperheads who will strike with no warning (and are very difficult to see).
If you're walking in the woods and are worried about copperheads, take a big stick and banfg the ground--they will retreat when they feel the vibrations; in all cases, they'd rather get away from you than strike, but if they feel cornered and have no other option, they will strike (imagine if you were their size and had no other defense, and something the size of a human came at you!). Even if you are bitten, their venom is not usually fatal to humans (not that I wouldn't freak out if I were bitten, mind you!) And it could be deadly for dogs or cats.
I've lived in NC my whole life, near woods, and never once seen a copperhead in the wild except dead ones. Mostly just be aware of when and where you might encounter one; a great many cases of people being bitten are from doing inadvisable things (like reaching into a pile of underbrush)
I have come across snakes both harmless and poisonous while out in the woods, but the greatest threat and the most unpleasant encounters I have had are with ground nesting Yellow Jackets.
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