Some Insight Into The Differences Between Cainbrake Rattlesnakes & Copperheads

[Mistwalker]

Now, it is important to note that snakes, much like people, can have bad days and can have bad moods, However, these two series of photos (something from a larger project I am doing)illustrate the typical behavior of these two types of snakes. In both cases I was using a telephoto lens from about 2 meters away, so not as close as it appears in some shots.


Canebrake or Timber Rattlesnakes are typically not aggressive. They will usually warn you if you get close enough to make them nervous, and in my personal experiences they will often retreat to avoid a confrontation. Though looking closely at this one, the milky eyes and dark skin, it near the time of shedding it's skin, and they can be a lot easier to upset. However it also looked like it had just eaten, so it was also pretty content. So it just calmly retreated.

Copperheads on the other hand, while not really being known for going out of their way to attack people, are not known for their chilled out attitudes, or for retreating. You can see how it goes from crawling, to flattening out in an instinctual attempt to hide, to coiling to defend itslef. It's best not to push your luck with any poisonous snake, but it really doesn't take much pushing with these guys.

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[emoney2277]

God I hate snakes!! Yuck!

 

[cutchu]

Thanks for sharing. i do not like them either. I live in south GA and my yard backs up to miles of woods. We regularly have snakes in the yard, driveway... everywhere. I wear knee length snake boots to work in the back yard. Have killed MANY of them, including Copperheads. I have not run across a rattler yet, but it will happen.

 

[abrasion]

I on the other hand love snakes!!! I have had a snake or 10 in the house for the last 20 years. Copperheads are one of my favorites, just beautiful animals. Thanks for sharing...

 

[Adam Eklofe]

Awesome shots, and thanks for the great information.

 

[tac4me]

And here I was looking forward to a good night's sleep tonight. Now I foresee a snake filled nightmare of dodging copperheads i couldn't see. Thanks so much for that...
Honestly I do appreciate the education, still scares me into a new set of shorts.

 

[cutchu]

Hey abrasion. No offense, they just scare the crap out of me and I do not like having deadly, crafty, very well hidden creatures around the house. They are interesting though. They just need to be interesting from not near me.

I grew up in Miami and the Miami Serpentarium was still open back then. The curator used to "milk" venomous snakes for their venom the viewing public. Unfortunately, a young child was killed there and they closed it down.

 

[Dman3d]

They are beautiful but of varieties in the south east cotton mouth and pygmy rattlers are jerks.

 

[abrasion]

Hey abrasion. No offense, they just scare the crap out of me and I do not like having deadly, crafty, very well hidden creatures around the house. They are interesting though. They just need to be interesting from not near me.

I grew up in Miami and the Miami Serpentarium was still open back then. The curator used to "milk" venomous snakes for their venom the viewing public. Unfortunately, a young child was killed there and they closed it down.

I live on in Western Oregon so there are no poisonous snakes in these parts or I'd have a different opinion of them if I lived in a different part of the country.

I have raised boas for the past 20 years though beautiful and docile.

 

[Tim the Wizard]

Nice! I think you were in the danger zone of that Rattler.

If you get bit, should you hike out, dress the wound, or stay put and call in the SAR team?

Edit: found some good info here http://www.flotography.com/what-to-do-when-a-snake-bites-you-on-a-remote-trail/

and here: (NSFW) http://www.venomousreptiles.org/articles/345

 

[Mistwalker]

God I hate snakes!! Yuck!

I used to be that way when I was a kid. But we seem to be attracted to so many of the same places that it seemed like a good idea to learn more about them.

Thanks for sharing. i do not like them either. I live in south GA and my yard backs up to miles of woods. We regularly have snakes in the yard, driveway... everywhere. I wear knee length snake boots to work in the back yard. Have killed MANY of them, including Copperheads. I have not run across a rattler yet, but it will happen.

I'm not really what you would call a snake lover, I just also don't hate them and don't kill them without a good reason. I spend a lot of time in their environment, and I like to study that environment and its inhabitants. I have a pair of Danner Pronghorn snake boots I wear in the warm months.

I on the other hand love snakes!!! I have had a snake or 10 in the house for the last 20 years. Copperheads are one of my favorites, just beautiful animals. Thanks for sharing...

They are beautifully colored and have some of the best camouflage I've seen.

Awesome shots, and thanks for the great information.

Thanks man, glad you enjoyed the post.

And here I was looking forward to a good night's sleep tonight. Now I foresee a snake filled nightmare of dodging copperheads i couldn't see. Thanks so much for that...
Honestly I do appreciate the education, still scares me into a new set of shorts.

Sorry man. Yeah, snakes have some interesting affects on people. I watched a guy break his nose running face first into a tree running from a good sized garter snake.

According to some of the old lore on dreams, dreams about snakes are said to warn you that you have unseen enemies...

They are beautiful but of varieties in the south east cotton mouth and pygmy rattlers are jerks.

They can be at certain times. They can be easily annoyed when they are about to shed, they can be territorial at mating season, and they can get really testy if they are hungry and you disturb their hunt.

Nice! I think you were in the danger zone of that Rattler.

If you get bit, should you hike out, dress the wound, or stay put and call in the SAR team?

Edit: found some good info here http://www.flotography.com/what-to-do-when-a-snake-bites-you-on-a-remote-trail/

and here: (NSFW) http://www.venomousreptiles.org/articles/345

Thanks, I never really got the sense I was in danger, just that my sudden presence was disturbing to it. we both stopped moving at the same time and it just laid there trying to figure me. I just kept shooting photos and in a couple of minutes it retreated.

Some good info in that first link. I suppose there have been times when I was far enough away from my truck that I might not have survived a bad snake bite. But this time I was just getting back to my truck, and had just walked around it. I was a twenty minute drive from the hospital, was wearing snake boots and had my walking stick, I really wasn't worried about the snake. If I had been hungry I could have killed and eaten it. As it was I was on my way home to dinner, and just spent a few minutes observing it.

 

[lmalterna]

Great shots Mist.

Something to consider on killing snakes- animals are drawn to a location by 1) Environment 2) availability of food 3) water.
1)- Learn the types of environment the venomopus snakes in your area like and try to eliminate those from your yard. Example, Copperheads love rotting wood- wood piles and mulch.
2)- Food- Non venomous snakes such as Rat snakes(most common as Black Snake)- have higher metabolisms and eat more. If they eat the food, the environment no longer appeals to venomous snakes.
3) water- not much you can do about that. But do note that Copperheads are closely related to Water Moccasins- they eat, small birds and rodents BUT also fish, frogs and wet lizards. So you will often find them near small streams. Food competitors here are Northern, Southern, Banded and Brown water snakes as well as Eastern Kinsgankes. The Kings will also eat smaller snakes.

Kill non venomous snakes if it makes you feel better but do it knowing you are helping to create an environment fo rthe ones you really do not want around.

Education trumps fear. I hate spiders but realize they have a place so I tolerate them LOL!
Bill

 

[emoney2277]

I have two huge black snakes that live in my wood pile out back. I would never kill them because 1) they keep rodents and other varmints out of yard 2) They keep poisonous snakes out of my yard, though I have never seen a venomous snake around here, and 3) Im not getting that close to them!!

 

[TxSportsman]

I have two huge black snakes that live in my wood pile out back. I would never kill them because 1) they keep rodents and other varmints out of yard 2) They keep poisonous snakes out of my yard, though I have never seen a venomous snake around here, and 3) Im not getting that close to them!!

Two huge black snakes? What part of the country are you in? Sounds like you have a couple Blue Indigos living in your yard which is awesome! They most definitely kill other snakes... they are just about on top of the food chain.

 

[hhmoore]

Nice looking timber. Canebrakes are a southern variant (that used to be considered a separate subspecies)...quite a different look, IMO; but, at the same time, not all that different.
I find your characterization of copperheads interesting because it differs a bit from my own experiences with them; but different locales can make a difference in that regard. That particular one, based on the photo, was likely more defensive because it was totally exposed. No easy departure aided by camouflage, and a full on retreat would have left it vulnerable if there had been an actual threat.
It's nice to see people that are able understand and share space with snakes.

Oh - nice pics, btw

 

[Mistwalker]

Nice looking timber. Canebrakes are a southern variant (that used to be considered a separate subspecies)...quite a different look, IMO; but, at the same time, not all that different.
I find your characterization of copperheads interesting because it differs a bit from my own experiences with them; but different locales can make a difference in that regard. That particular one, based on the photo, was likely more defensive because it was totally exposed. No easy departure aided by camouflage, and a full on retreat would have left it vulnerable if there had been an actual threat.
It's nice to see people that are able understand and share space with snakes.

Oh - nice pics, btw

I have never really been crazy about snakes, but I don't believe in killing anything without a good reason. I spend a lot of time working in the areas they inhabit, I felt it was important to develop an understanding of their behavior.

Most of the ones I have seen here have been lighter in color. This one was the darkest so far, but I could tell this one was about to shed.

This is one I saw a couple of years ago

This one a friend saw a few days ago just up the road from where I live.

This is one my partner and I stopped to check out when the people in front of us on a dirt road went out of their way to hit it on the left shoulder of the road.