Hello.
Just a slightly different perspective on snakes...hope it's ok. I live in Northern VA in the Mtns where there is a healthy population of copperheads. Last Spring I was out in the woods near a pile of rocks trying to cut a bittersweet vine off a tree..I was wholly focused on what I was doing and not WHERE I was. I put out my hand to clip and yes, I was bitten by a young copperhead. I did all the wrong things...I immediately ran back to my house and hosed my hand off. You never run (it increases heart rate and speeds poison transit through your body) and you don't wash it off (forgotten why not)...anyway long story short...I spent 3 days in hospital, $50,000 (YES 50,000$!!!!) on antivenin, and have (probably permanently) partially lost the use of the middle finger on my dominant hand. Now, the facts about copperheads...most venomous bites in the US are from coppers because while most snakes will slither away from you if given a chance, coppers hold their ground and bite immediately if threatened by your presence. However, while you're more likely to be bitten by a copper than another species, USUALLY the bite has very little venom in it as it is a warning bite so it hurts like heck but recovery is complete. Unless, as in my case you are bitten by a young snake that delivers all of its venom in the first bite
Copperhead bites of any kind are rarely fatal, in fact, I *think* fatalities are limited to people who have heart attacks from the shock of being bitten and those who are allergic to ingredients of the antivenin.
My reason for posting is not really to discuss my bite but simply to say I know that snakes tend to terrify many people and if they see one, their immediate instinct is to kill it. I understand this....believe me...I saw my second copperhead this Spring and though I know copperheads are not a species for chasing people, I ran! I just wanted to say that it is not necessary to kill them (though some may consider it so). If they are a threat to your home, I would call animal control or your local wildlife rehabilitation center (if you don't know where this is, call a vet...they usually have a list of numbers) and have them removed. If the snake is outside near a rock or woodpile, avoid it. In the summer, make sure you carry a flashlight with you at night and wear shoes (copperheads in particular, are nocturnal during the summer). Best advice I can give about avoiding snakes in the first place is don't make the mistake I made....be aware of your surroundings, always check where you plan to put a hand or foot and avoid rock/log piles during the heat of the day in the summer!
Sorry for butting into the conversation but sometimes these threads make me sad....some people will always see the need to kill snakes but maybe some will decide a little differently if they know the facts.
