North Carolina Baby Copperhead Season Is Here And These Are 4 Important Things You Should Know

I live in the middle of the woods in York County so I am well aware of what happens this time of year in nature. North Carolina baby copperhead season is here and this is what you should know. When the weather starts to cool, you should take particular care of where you walk and where you place your feet when you do.

The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission confirms that North Carolina is home to a large population of copperheads. And about 90% of venomous snake bites in the Tar Heel State are from the creature. Our source, The Charlotte Observer did the digging on copperheads, their offspring, and ways to avoid them.

Copperheads go looking for love in the spring and the gestation period for females lasts til late summer and early fall. And here we are. Remember, copperheads are not hatched, they are born via live birth. That means there is no such thing as a copperhead nest per se according to the experts. Does that bring you some relief? Ehhh, not really.

So the big question is what do baby copperheads look like? Now, that's the million dollar question. Well, the good news is they look almost exactly like adults with one exception. They have bright neon yellow or green tails. Biologist Falyn Owens tell the Charlotte Observer, “They have the same pattern as the adults, which kind of looks like Hershey Kisses sitting in a row, sort of like dark chocolate triangles in a line over a paler background.” They are around 6-7 inches long.

Baby copperheads love the woods because that is where they find their prey. But don't rule out your backyard either. Keep a sharp eye out around tall grass, bushes or trees.

Can baby copperheads bite? Why, they sure can. But they would rather not unless they feel threatened. Here's another quote from Owens directly from the Charlotte Observer, “Snakes do not bite people unless they’re defending their life,” “So any snake that is not in a situation where it has to defend itself from being stepped on, squished or killed is not going to be a snake that’s that will bite a human being.”

If you are bitten by a copperhead of any kind, seek medical attention immediately. North Carolina Poison Control says do not try and "suck out" snake venom. Instead try and stay calm, and wash the area with warm soapy water. Raise the bite site to heart level. Call 1-800-222-1222

I don't like snakes but we have a lot of them in North Carolina. I hike a lot and I love being in the great outdoors. However, snakes give me so much anxiety. I absolutely despise them. The most unpleasant part of hiking in 2020 was probably the snakes. My thought was that since we were all stuck in quarantine the snakes would breed in peace and now there are more of them than ever.

There are more than 3,000 species of snake on the planet, with 600 of these being venomous. Living in North Carolina, we must know all there is to know about snakes. It is especially relevant if you plan on camping, hiking, or even heading to a local park. The reason being is that North Carolina is home to six venomous snakes. These snakes are featured on our snake list below.

Every year I see probably about ten of these lovely creatures. They make me jump out of my skin. This venomous snake is also called Water Moccasin. This is the most common venomous snake out of the six. It is found literally everywhere throughout North Carolina. The bites for these bad boys are he bites are pretty painful, but deaths from copperhead bites are extremely rare. You can see more on this snake here.

This is a worthwhile one if you like snakes. The average length of a reticulated python is 20 feet. That's the length of two basketball hoops! These snakes are found in southeast Asia. The habitat preferences of these animals appear to depend on their location, but they enjoy rainforests, woodlands, and grasslands. You can see more on this snake here.

Though I love the colors, I wouldn't get close to them! The Eastern Coral Snake is often referred to as the candy stick snake. It is normally the most misidentified snake found in North Carolina. In the southern Coastal Plain from North Carolina to Louisiana, including Florida, the eastern coral snake is scattered. Throughout their range, they can be found grazing in areas of scrub oak sandhills and pine Flatwoods that flood seasonally. You can’t legally kill the Eastern Coral Snake due to their endangered status. You can see more on this snake here.

Just seeing photos of this snake gives me nightmares. Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake is the largest and perhaps the most dangerous species of rattlesnake in the world. The backs of these heavy-bodied pitvipers are covered with black diamond patterns outlined in dark diamonds. In North Carolina, diamondbacks are usually found in sandy pine Flatwoods in the southeastern Coastal Plain. You can’t legally kill the Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake due to their endangered status. You can see more on this snake here.

Wow! The heaviest snake in the world is the green anaconda. They can reach up to 220 pounds and 16 feet in length. A native of South America, the green anaconda inhabits swamps, marshes, and streams. These snakes are nonvenomous. You can see more on this snake here.

Do you often see these? I sure do. Most North Carolinians know at least the name of the copperhead. Copperheads are typically between two and three feet long, with a fairly heavy body. North Carolina is home to the most common and widespread venomous snake, the copperhead. You can see more on this snake here.

They're kind of cute, aren't they? Pigmy Rattlesnakes are also venomous snakes in North Carolina. In the United States, pigmy rattlesnakes are the smallest species of rattlesnake. Snakes that live in this region usually have dull gray bodies with a row of dark spots running down the center of their backs. In North Carolina, pigmy rattlers are found in pine Flatwoods and scrub oak habitats in the southeastern Coastal Plain and the Sandhills. They have been found at Crowder’s Mountain State Park in Gaston County. You can see more on this snake here.

Rattlesnakes of this species are large and heavy-bodied, with dark bands or chevrons protruding from their bodies. They are most commonly found in mountains and coastal plains. One of the most impressive things about this snake is the fact that it can strike up to 1/3 to 1/2 of its body length. I am not a fan of this snake. You can see more on this snake here.

If you are bitten by a snake, follow these directions given by the Carolinas Poison Center: