Range

North America is the native home of the copperhead snake. Here they can be found throughout Mexico and the United States. In the United States they live in the east of the country ranging from New England in the North down to Florida and out west to Nebraska.

Habitat

Due to their large range they can be found in many habitats. These include forests, floodplains and the edges of swamps.

They seek shelter under rotting wood and may also enter human made habitats such as construction sites and sawdust piles.

Reproduction

Mating takes place from April to May with a second breeding season occurring in some populations where they mate from August to October. Males search for females by detecting the pheromones which they emit in to the air. To detect these they use their tongue. The male has a larger tongue which may assist with this.

If two males meet they will engage in a fierce contest to win mating rights with nearby females. They will raise their bodies and intertwine these before attempting to push one another to the ground. The opponent who can keep their head highest for the longest is deemed the winner.

Females may also attempt to fight males prior to mating and will reject males which do not engage in this fight.

If mating occurs during the later breeding season the females will store the sperm and use this to fertilize their eggs in spring after they have hibernated in winter. As a result of this gestation can differ from three to nine months. While the eggs develop the female will sometimes not eat as the eggs take up so much space in the body.

Following a successful mating the eggs will develop inside the body. They will hatch before the female gives birth or soon after leaving the body.

Between two and fifteen young will be born with the amount depending on the size of the female.

Following the birth the young receive no care from their mother. At birth they have a yellow tail tip which resembles a worm and is used to attract their prey. This turns the same color as the rest of their body by three years old.

Young are born with fangs and venom which is working once they are born.

Sexual maturity is reached at four years old.

Behavior

Copperhead snakes spend most of their time on the ground but will climb up to a few meters high in a tree.

They undertake a hibernation over winter but may emerge on warm days during this time to bask in the sun. Most hibernate alone but some will enter shared hibernacula with other copperhead snakes along with other species of snakes. After emerging they will bask close to their hibernacula and gradually become more active.

For most of the year they are active by day though they may be more active at dawn or dusk on days where it is warm.

Predators and Threats

Natural predators of the copperhead snake include other snakes, bullfrogs, American alligators, birds of prey such as the crow and red-tailed hawk, Virginia opossums, coyotes and domestic cats.

Most of the snakes which are preyed upon are young individuals.

Across most of their range the population is considered stable though they are locally threatened in some areas.

Humans lead to declines in their population through habitat loss and degradation.

Quick facts

Research is ongoing as to whether the venom of the copperhead snake may be useful in pharmaceuticals.

They are responsible for the most snakebites in the US each year though most of these are not fatal. This is due to their large range the ability to live in built-up areas. Despite this treatment should always be sought for a snake bite.

There are five recognized subspecies of the copperhead snake.