Copperheads!!

[happyappygirl (Premo)]

OK, my husband and son are amatuer herpetologists, and enjoy all manner of reptiles. The EXCEPTION are copperheads living in and near our barn/house. If they are out on the property, well away from the inhabited parts of our place...no problem, live and let live we say. We have found TWO in two weeks, both were VERY aggressive, striking even when we weren't aware of their presence at first (and both are in formaldehyde now, LOL).
Problem is HOW to make them move out to more remote areas now??
I am horribly allergic to most manner of insect bites, and fear if a copperhead bites me, I won't live to tell the tail. And YES we are 100% positive they are copperheads. Slitted eyes, FANGS, triangle heads, the works. IF one of us gets bitten what do we do??

[huntr1]

I am sure James White will be along shortly to tell you in his professional capacity what to do. However, in the meantime, I will tell you in my non-professional capacity what to do with them. How to move them further from the house/barn? Low angle shot from a 12G. Any parts you can find will be significantly further away from the house.

Bump for James White.

[Vince]

Originally posted by huntr1
Low angle shot from a 12G. Any parts you can find will be significantly further away from the house.

I'd be worried that the bunny huggers would come after me if I shot it, so maybe I outta stick to gas and a match.

Of course I'm full of crap, if I ever saw one, I would just pee my pants.

[happyappygirl (Premo)]

Originally posted by huntr1
"Low angle shot from a 12G. Any parts you can find will be significantly further away from the house. "



AMEN to THAT! I nearly spit my coffee onto the monitor - thanks for the laugh.

[James White (Premo)]

First off an official statement..lol
It is illegal in the State of Md. To kill any snake...ok did that part..lol


Copperheads have been increasing in numbers in the southern maryland area for the past 3 years.

Some of the main hot spots for them are.
CRE,ranch club,Hollywood,Waldorf ,Hughesville,And a few other places.

One question about the above post,I believe you said they kept striking,This is not normal for copperheads to do.Actaully a copperhead is very docile,and will only strike,when provoked.

For copperheads and all other snakes,You have to look at one thing.."WHY ARE THEY THERE ?"

If you have them,means you have a habitat ,that is table and plentyful of rodents and other things that are in the food chain,along with a great habitat for them to house up in,and breed,Such as high grass,woodpiles,sheds w/wooden floors,Or general clutter,As all the above draw in the food.

Clean up your mess,eliminate there food sourses,and they will go away.

The chances of you dying from a copperhead bite are slim,unless you are very young,or old and / or have a week immune system.Typically if bit,you should go to hospital,and be monitored,Main threat and what usually happens after a bite,is an attack on your muscular tissue makeup,which will swell your area of bite up ,very large.Anti-Venom is vary rarely used,The main thing is to the hospital to monitor for any other reasctions and to assure the swelling does not transent into areas which could cause loss of breath.Similiar to those who are allergic to bees and swell up.

Any other questions just ask.

[vraiblonde]

It's illegal to kill a snake? Why?

[James White (Premo)]

Why??? Bunny huggers..lol

A long time law,that we are working on getting out or re phrased ,never enforced,will I shouldnt say never.

Actaully the law was put in a LONG time ago,and still has some merit today.It is well known the benifit of snakes in helping control the rodent popuation.The law was written in 1957.and has never changed.

[otter (Premo)]

Originally posted by James White
Actaully a copperhead is very docile,and will only strike,when provoked.

I have never seen a docile copperhead, every one that I have run across has been very aggressive. I lay no claim to being an expert on snakes, but the 7 or 8 times I've come across a copperhead, they have been far and away the most agressive snake I've ever seen.