Pygmy Rattlesnakes

[grace]

No offense, but I grew up around and have killed several copperheads. This was a copperhead. I should have taken a couple of pics. I've seen a few pygmy rattlers and a black snake or two around here, but this was the first copperhead. Size was about 2 1/2 ft.

My location is in BMB on Kingfish Street, just off of 30-A.

You're right, you should have taken pictures. I'd love to see a southern copperhead that far out of range, but I'd prefer to see it alive.

 

[Arkiehawg]

Well, as they say....if there is one, there are probably two! I'll take pics next time (hopefully there won't be a next time!) I also don't mind seeing them alive either.....as long as it isn't in my yard where my family and pets play.....

I blame my neighbor for my experience anyway.....His wife "forced" him to kill a black racer a few weeks prior. Therefore our neighborhood "guardian" ceased to exist and the "gangs" have now come in.....

 

[grace]

SOS!!!!!!!!!!!
Save Our Snakes!!!!

 

[jodiFL]

As an avid herpetologist, I have never heard of or seen a copperhead in these parts, nor can I find any documentation of such. The range may extnend to the most northern parts of our county. Not sure where you are located.

Oh yea.. they are here. I have seen LIVE ones in my area on 3 different occasions. I live close to the bay off Bay drive.

I think I like this jodiFL character.

 

[grace]

Oh yea.. they are here. I have seen LIVE ones in my area on 3 different occasions. I live close to the bay off Bay drive.

I'd LOVE to see these 'copperheads'. I suspect they are corn or red rat snakes, fox snakes, watersnakes, or possibly juvenile cottonmouths. Can you describe these 'copperheads'.
I live in the same area, and have for several years. I bike and run the trails through the state forrest. Have come accross pigmeys, eastern diamondbacks, corn snakes, racers, indigos, scarlet kings, pine snakes, hognose snakes, water snakes and cottonmouths. Still no copperheads.
Keep that camera handy

 

[jodiFL]

I will attempt to get you a pic of one. I identified the ones I saw through my "always-with-me little green book" (Audubon Society Field guide). While the markings on them are not as distinct as those shown in the book they are the same in pattern and placement. I attributed this to the light sand color in the area I saw them in.They definitely had the "pit" but moved quite rapidly away from me when approached. (not that I minded after I noticed the pit) Most of the rat snakes I have seen are "banded" while the markings of the copperheads stopped at the lower side.I also noticed NO markings on the head of these snakes, they were all one color
Also the only Cottonmouths I ever see are solid black with an almost yellow stripe on the side of the head.

 

[grace]

I will attempt to get you a pic of one. I identified the ones I saw through my "always-with-me little green book" (Audubon Society Field guide). While the markings on them are not as distinct as those shown in the book they are the same in pattern and placement. I attributed this to the light sand color in the area I saw them in.They definitely had the "pit" but moved quite rapidly away from me when approached. (not that I minded after I noticed the pit) Most of the rat snakes I have seen are "banded" while the markings of the copperheads stopped at the lower side.I also noticed NO markings on the head of these snakes, they were all one color

Did they look anything like these?

 

[Arkiehawg]

Grace,

Those look like cottonmouths to me?

 

[jodiFL]

The copperhead i have seen has markings like the one on the left but were a lighter color like the ones on the right. And most moccasins I have seen look like the last pic

 

[jodiFL]

Grace,

Those look like cottonmouths to me?

Me too