Copperhead

[Bergen Angler]

Last week, when I was about to sit down on a rock, I saw a huge copperhead right next to me. Thank God that it was a chilly day and the snake was very sluggish. Let's be careful out there.

[Eskimo]

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Are you sure it was a Copperhead and not a Watersnake?
They have a superficial resemblance to one another, but the watersnake is basically harmless.

It seems to me that watersnakes are like a thousand times more common than copperheads. I see watersnakes nearly every time I fish certain lakes, but I have only seen a Copperhead in New Jersey once in my life.

The first clue is whether it takes to water. Watersnakes, as their name suggests, are found around and in water.

Here are some pictures to show the differences:

Northern Watersnake:









COPPERHEAD:

[Bergen Angler]

I see alot of water snakes all the time. But this one was much bigger and fatter. It's possible that it was a water snake (he was resting on the rocks next to me) and didn't go into water when I was about to sit next to him. Rather, he just move underneath the rocks. It scared the hell out of me.

[NorthJerzyG]

I think I'd rather run into a copperhead, lol. Had one of those water snakes as a pet a while back. Caught him as a hatchling and thought he may acclimate well to captivity......

Wrong!!! It was one nasty SOB!!! Always snapping and flaring up everytime I put my hand in the tank, lol...........

[Lard Almighty]

I saw a copperhead in the wild once, and there was no mistaking it. Not only did its head have the triangular pit viper shape, but it lives up to its name; the head is vivid copper, almost with a penny-like luster to it.

[Eskimo]

Originally Posted by Lard Almighty

I saw a copperhead in the wild once, and there was no mistaking it. Not only did its head have the triangular pit viper shape, but it lives up to its name; the head is vivid copper, almost with a penny-like luster to it.

I agree. Once you see a Copperhead once, you know exactly what you're looking at and won't mistake a corn snake or water snake for a Copperhead.

here is a pic I took of the only Copperhead I have seen in New Jersey. It is very distinct from anything else.

[AndrewT]

Very cool pic! Where was this?

[Eskimo]

Originally Posted by AndrewT

Very cool pic! Where was this?

Thanks. I found it at the Delaware Water Gap.
There are Rattlesnakes there, too.

[Jenger]

I remember being maybe 12 or 13 years old & came across a rattle snake up by the dingmans ferry area with my father. Never have seen one since and I am outdoors a lot. Seen a few copperheads though.

I know this doesn't have anything to do with snakes, but, believe it or not a guy I know who lives in my area (Hopatcong) was bitten last summer by a brown recluse spider while cutting his grass. It lead to a nasty infection which called for skin graphs, the whole 9. He had a nice chunk of meat taken out of his groin area over that little spider. Never found it either, had the doctors surprised as they are not common up in this area.

[lunkertaker]

Originally Posted by Eskimo

I agree. Once you see a Copperhead once, you know exactly what you're looking at and won't mistake a corn snake or water snake for a Copperhead.

here is a pic I took of the only Copperhead I have seen in New Jersey. It is very distinct from anything else.

I have not seen one in NJ, but know they exist. Very distinct and as Lard points out the viper triangular head is usually a dead give away. That said, caution to all water snakes should be observed just in case. Have seen too many of these where I grew up in TN and is best to error on the side of caution. Typically a snake encounter near the water can catch one off guard, and identification is speculative. Experience has told me they are 10X times afraid of you as you are of them, regardless of the species. So moving away often mitigates the potential, unless you are land-locked and a slow move away from an encounter may be sufficient.