When I picked up a bird feeder that was on the ground to fill it this morning I was greeted by this beautiful beast. He was only about 2 feet / .6 meters long. When l checked later in the morning he had moved on but stayed under this greenery for quite a while first.
Oh my gosh! It looks just like a copperhead. Anti-venom costs $14K per vile at last check. Be very, very careful. It's the number one venomous snake bite in the state of SC. You were extremely brave to get that shot!
We have rattlesnakes here and they are a kind which is shy not aggressive, but we always try to move slowly and make noise when we are in their area so they have time to retreat. Don’t have any idea what kind of snake that is. I’m glad you were able to get such a beautiful shot of it.
@corinnec Thanks Corinne, apparently I should have been. @summerfield sorry I was trying to figure out a way to warn you! ♥ @wyomingsis I am glad you like it in spite of your aversion! @dutchothotmailcom It does look rather evil doesn't it? @amyk thanks Amy. It was a little disconcerting. @maggiemae Positive. I watched him move @randystreat it was probably rather stupid of me since I believe it WAS a copperhead but didn't reaize it at the time! @ludwigsdiana Thanks Diana. Most of our snakes are not but apparently this one is! @casablanca I am so glad you approve and what a surprise to learn about you! @koalagardens How about that?! I am so glad you do Katrina thanks! @30pics4jackiesdiamond I was a bit startled at first I really appreciate it Jackie @nicolecampbell LOL! As much as you walk in the bush? That surprises me @wakelys Well I have seen bigger @Dawn LOL! I am so glad you like it Dawn! @gijsje I am really happy you like it Bep thanks @marlboromaam Apparently I am very stupid instead of brave. I didn't realize it was a copperhead. I used to raise snakes (so I should know better ) but I thought it was a type of corn snake or rat snake. @brillomick I am so glad you like it Mickey Thanks for the follow, comment and FAV @lesip I was startled at first and now that I realize it was a copperhead I am a little scared but it is too late for that really! @shutterbug49 I grew up around rattlers in Washington state so I have a healthy respect, but I think this is a copperhead which I didn't realize and is less threatening than rattlers. @madamelucy LOL! I did drop the feeder because he surprised me but i didn'r have sense enough to be scared of him! @jaybutterfield I have a healthy respect since I discovered it is a copperhead @mcsiegle so glad you think so Mary! @cdonohoue Truthfully when I posted I was trying to figure out how to warn people first but couldn't figure it out! Thanks for going outside your comfort zone and taking the time to comment Cathy @olivetreeann LOL! Sorry?!
@grammyn I was nearly bitten by one a few years back. I am very wary of them and watch where I step around here. They are well camouflaged in leaf clutter and not seen - thus the number one venomous snake bite in our state. They are night hunters and like to sleep off their meals during the day in damp warm places. They are not normally aggressive with exception to mating season and when they're shedding their skin. They will of course bite if you get too close. Take a look at this photo that went viral and be sure to scroll down to see the copperhead highlighted in red - https://www.wilx.com/content/news/Viral-photo-shows-copperhead-snakes-amazing-camouflage-420376274.html Just be careful!
@marlboromaam Thank you so much. I grew up near rattlers so I have a healthy respect for venomous snakes and I know that most snakes will retreat if given the chance EXCEPT when in shed or mating. since this one was in grass he was very easily seen with his bright coloring too.
" A moderately-sized snake, most copperheads are less than 36 inches with larger specimens reaching 48 inches. The snake is fairly stout with weights from 1/2 to 3/4 of a pound. The copperhead’s venom is relatively mild and while painful, is very rarely fatal. There is an antivenin that is sometimes used, but mostly, because the potential side-effects are worse than the affliction, treatment is basic and mostly topical. Considered non-aggressive, when excited/threatened, the copperhead will often assume a “freeze” strategy and rely on its excellent camouflage (ironically, making it easier for unwary humans to step on it, provoking a bite). All pit vipers are capable of delivering a bite with little or no venom delivered, but the copperhead is unique in that most defensive first strikes include no venom. If the snake is still being threatened, a second strike almost always does include venom." According to https://www.reptilesmagazine.com/top-10-venomous-north-american-snakes/
@grammyn Interesting info. People around here are usually hospitalized and given anti-venom. One of my acquaintances received a $45K hospital bill for a copperhead bite to his calf muscle. He said he got quite a dose of venom and passed out before the ambulance arrived. I can't imagine what he went through. Something I never want to experience.
@marlboromaam I feel certain it is nothing to sneeze about. I imagine somewhat it depends on the size of the snake and whether it’s a single or multiple bites. I hope to never have any experience with it either!
@summerfield sorry I was trying to figure out a way to warn you! ♥
@wyomingsis I am glad you like it in spite of your aversion!
@dutchothotmailcom It does look rather evil doesn't it?
@amyk thanks Amy. It was a little disconcerting.
@maggiemae Positive. I watched him move
@randystreat it was probably rather stupid of me since I believe it WAS a copperhead but didn't reaize it at the time!
@ludwigsdiana Thanks Diana. Most of our snakes are not but apparently this one is!
@casablanca I am so glad you approve and what a surprise to learn about you!
@koalagardens How about that?! I am so glad you do Katrina thanks!
@30pics4jackiesdiamond I was a bit startled at first I really appreciate it Jackie
@nicolecampbell LOL! As much as you walk in the bush? That surprises me
@wakelys Well I have seen bigger
@Dawn LOL! I am so glad you like it Dawn!
@gijsje I am really happy you like it Bep thanks
@marlboromaam Apparently I am very stupid instead of brave. I didn't realize it was a copperhead. I used to raise snakes (so I should know better ) but I thought it was a type of corn snake or rat snake.
@brillomick I am so glad you like it Mickey Thanks for the follow, comment and FAV
@lesip I was startled at first and now that I realize it was a copperhead I am a little scared but it is too late for that really!
@shutterbug49 I grew up around rattlers in Washington state so I have a healthy respect, but I think this is a copperhead which I didn't realize and is less threatening than rattlers.
@madamelucy LOL! I did drop the feeder because he surprised me but i didn'r have sense enough to be scared of him!
@jaybutterfield I have a healthy respect since I discovered it is a copperhead
@mcsiegle so glad you think so Mary!
@cdonohoue Truthfully when I posted I was trying to figure out how to warn people first but couldn't figure it out! Thanks for going outside your comfort zone and taking the time to comment Cathy
@olivetreeann LOL! Sorry?!
" A moderately-sized snake, most copperheads are less than 36 inches with larger specimens reaching 48 inches. The snake is fairly stout with weights from 1/2 to 3/4 of a pound. The copperhead’s venom is relatively mild and while painful, is very rarely fatal. There is an antivenin that is sometimes used, but mostly, because the potential side-effects are worse than the affliction, treatment is basic and mostly topical. Considered non-aggressive, when excited/threatened, the copperhead will often assume a “freeze” strategy and rely on its excellent camouflage (ironically, making it easier for unwary humans to step on it, provoking a bite). All pit vipers are capable of delivering a bite with little or no venom delivered, but the copperhead is unique in that most defensive first strikes include no venom. If the snake is still being threatened, a second strike almost always does include venom." According to https://www.reptilesmagazine.com/top-10-venomous-north-american-snakes/