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Every dog I've owned over the last 20 years has been bitten by a copperhead (up here at Falls Lake). While these were/are good sized dogs, the impact was minimal. Localized swelling for a few days treated with Benedryl. I doubt a copperhead could kill a large dog unless there were other issues.
Yeah, that decapitated head biting the dog and killing it sounds a bit urban legendy to me. I'm not saying it couldn't happen. Saw a YouTube video of a decapitated copperhead biting itself the other day, but it certainly sounds unlikely. Copperhead bites are rarely fatal in dogs, even small dogs.
I am contemplating moving to Raleigh, NC area from Detroit metro. The only reason I am thinking of the move is to get out of the terrible/harsh winter that we experienced this year. After reading few articles online and seeing statistics, I see the RTL area and the NC state in general has a lot of snakes. Is it true? I get chills even imagining seeing a snake in my garden. How worried should I be with this factor? How common are snakes in a city like Cary and surroundings? In Michigan we have snakes, but most of them are not poisonous and we dont see them in the metro area that is densely populated.
Do you have a job lined up? You would want to do that before deciding to move somewhere. The newer the area in a fast-growing suburb like Cary, the more likely that displaced animals that used to live there may still be around. Also places with woods and streams are where you'll find snakes.
If the ONLY reason you are leaving Detroit is the weather, there are lots of places that don't have that kind of winters, that also don't have snakes. And probably have a better job market (though it depends on your field). Is Cary the only place you have considered? There are lots of states/metros out there that don't get the winters Michigan does (NC does get snow, too, though nothing like MI). Unfortunately, generally warmer weather tends to correlate with more outdoor critters.
Exactly what I'd read... their natural threat response is to strike and deliver a small, non-lethal dose of venom in a bite. Whereas most other snakes will give more obvious warnings such as a moccassin showing off it's pink mouth and fangs as a threat posture, a cobra fanning out and rising off the ground, a rattler using it's rattle, etc. Copperheads are notorious for giving little to no warning of their presence or the fact that they feel threatened. Their threat response is defined as a small bite.
Quote:
Originally Posted by poppydog
I didn't want to send her back out to snake-land
Thanks a ton for your reply... hugely useful and assuages my fears. I have to ask, where do you live?
I'm in Chapel Hill in the middle of town on a very wooded lot.
Looking at 3 very wooded acres myself right now with an electric dog fence around the perimeter. Northeast of the airport. I am concerned because I would rather leave my dogs outside when I leave the house rather than stick them inside when I leave.
See. We transplanted Yankees can be taught (eventually). We're not all hopeless.
You are my people and I agree.
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