Copperhead
Agkistrodon contortrix
Also called: highland moccasin, northern copperhead
A well-camouflaged pit viper of eastern woods, leaf litter, and rocky hillsides that is common near homes and a leading cause of snakebites in the East.
- Kind
- Venomous
- Typical length
- 2 to 3 feet
- Range
- The eastern and south-central U.S., from southern New England to northern Florida and west to Illinois, Kansas, and Texas
- Regions
- Northeast, Southeast, Midwest & Plains
- Habitat
- Woods & forest, Desert & rocky ground
- When active
- Spring through fall, active at night in summer
Note: Copperhead bites are painful and need medical care, though they are rarely deadly. Watch for them near woodpiles, leaf litter, and stone walls.
How to identify it
- Hourglass-shaped crossbands, wide on the sides and narrow across the back, mark a tan or pinkish-brown body.
- The head is plain copper-colored and the tail has no rattle.
- Young copperheads have a bright yellow-green tip on the tail.
- The head is broad and triangular, distinct from the neck.
Often confused with
- Northern Water Snake: banded and often found near water, but its bands are not hourglass-shaped.
- Eastern Milk Snake: blotched with red-brown, with black borders and a Y-shaped neck mark; slender head.
- Eastern Hognose Snake: blotched, but with an upturned snout.
If you meet one
- Stop and look before you step. Check where your feet and hands will land, especially near logs, rocks, and brush.
- Back away slowly and give the snake plenty of room, at least several body lengths. It wants to leave, not fight.
- Do not try to kill, catch, move, or photograph it up close. Most bites happen to people doing exactly that, and a dead snake can still bite by reflex.
If someone is bitten
- Move away from the snake and call 911 right away.
- Keep the person calm and as still as possible. Take off rings, watches, and tight clothing near the bite before swelling starts.
- Keep the bitten area still and about level with the heart, and get the person to a hospital. Antivenom is the treatment.
- Do not cut the bite, suck out venom, use a tourniquet, apply ice, or give alcohol. These make things worse.
- In the U.S., Poison Help (1-800-222-1222) can advise while you wait for help. Do not wait to see whether symptoms develop.
Field notes
Copperheads blend into dead leaves so well that most are seen only after they are nearly stepped on. They are not aggressive and usually freeze rather than flee, which is why people get bitten.
Related guides
This page is a general reference, not medical advice and not a substitute for identifying a real snake with an expert. Many snakes are protected by state law, and rules about killing or handling them vary, so check your state wildlife agency; our state resources directory links to each one. For any bite, get emergency care.