Copperhead Snake

Types of Snakes Types of Snakes

Copperhead Snakes (Agkistrodon contortrix) are medium sized, venomous snakes, in the Pitviper family, Crotalidae.

Five different sub-species live in forest habitats throughout the Eastern and Mid-western United States, south to Texas.

They feed mostly on rodents in its territory, and unless directly disturbed, they are not known to be particularly aggressive in the presence of humans.

While they do bite when disturbed, their bite is not normally fatal. However, copperhead bites still need to be taken seriously, and any bitten individual should seek medical attention.

They grow to an average three feet in length and the light body is covered with darker crossbands. The head shows a characteristic copper color.

© 2009 Patricia A. Michaels