The copperhead snake is almost never lethal but that doesn't mean it isn't dangerous

It was just a normal Tuesday morning. Judy Reed was in her basement in Pennsylvania doing laundry when she was bitten by a copperhead snake that sat coiled quietly on a shelf near the washing machine. She called 911, went to the hospital, and recovered. They shifted the snake. Life continued.

However, not everyone is so fortunate, and copperheads are far more common throughout the US than most people think. If you live anywhere from Texas to Connecticut, chances are one of these snakes has crossed your yard without you ever knowing.

The snake you probably can't spot
Copperheads are 24 to 40 inches long, have a triangular head, and a pale tan to pinkish-brown body with hourglass-shaped bands. On paper, that sounds simple to spot, but they really are masters of disguise. Their patterning is almost a perfect match for fallen leaves, dry grass, and forest undergrowth. You can be standing right next to one and not see it.


They range across almost the entire eastern US, from Georgia north to Connecticut and as far west as Texas and Oklahoma. They thrive in a variety of habitats, wooded hillsides, rocky outcrops, suburban backyards, and, apparently, Pennsylvania basements.

They're not out to get you, but they will defend themselves
You see, the thing about copperheads is, they don't run after people. According to Jeff Beane, a herpetologist at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, they bite when they feel threatened, usually when someone accidentally steps on or near them. When they catch the scent of a human nearby, they instinctively freeze and blend in. They don’t flee. That is exactly why chance meetings are so common.

In the US, the incidence of copperhead bites is estimated to be 16.4 bites per million people per year, with an estimated 2,920 people bitten by copperheads annually. This makes the copperhead responsible for more venomous bites than any other snake in the country. Most of those bites? They happen in backyards.

Venomous, yes, but rarely fatal
The venom of the copperhead is hemotoxic and destroys red blood cells, causing local tissue damage. Usually, the bite causes pain, swelling, bruising, and skin discoloration around the wound. Sometimes antivenom is needed, but death is actually rare.

An observational study of copperhead envenomation published in the journal BMC Emergency Medicine notes that although nearly all patients with bites suffer limb swelling and tenderness, most cases are classified as minor to moderate, and death is very rare. The CDC confirms that only about five of the 7,000 to 8,000 venomous snakebite cases reported in the U.S. each year are fatal, and copperheads account for a small portion of that.

That said, “rarely fatal” is not “harmless.” Without treatment, bites can cause permanent tissue damage, and 10 to 44 percent of patients who are bitten by rattlesnakes, a close relative in the pit viper family, report some form of lasting injury. The message is clear: if you get bitten, get to an emergency room immediately.

What to do if you spot one
Copperheads are pit vipers and have heat-sensing organs that allow them to find warm-blooded prey in the dark. They’re most active at night in the summer, and during the day in the cooler months, when most accidental human encounters occur.

If you see one, the best thing to do is just to walk away slowly. Don’t try to handle it, shift it yourself, or, and this must be said, try to draw out the venom. None of that helps.

If bitten, keep the affected limb below heart level, stay calm to slow your heart rate, and get to an ER as quickly as possible. If it is safe, take a picture of the snake to help doctors determine the species and the proper treatment.

A snake to be revered
Copperheads are not bad guys. They control rodent populations, are a big part of local ecosystems, and don't want anything to do with you. The fear around them is understandable, but a little knowledge goes a long way. Know what they look like, know where they like to hide, and know that if you give them space, they will almost certainly do the same.