Date: May 21, 2008Species: Agkistrodon contortix linnaeus
Time: 7:20 p.m
Temp: 80 F
UV Index: 0 low
Humidity: 73%
Sky: Fair
This was a very close encounter for my little brother and I. We were hiking through a marshy area in St. Tammany along a string of powerlines. On our way out, this 3ft copperhead was sprawled out on the trail, waiting for his next meal. We stepped within a few feet of him before noticing he was there. Although venomous, this particular snake is not the most deadly in Louisiana. This particular snake was not a very-aggresive specimen, it didn't even move when I tapped his tail to get him off of the trail. Personally, I find the copperhead to have one of the most beautiful patterns of snake species in Louisiana.
2 comments:
Wow those are some amazing pictures, what a close encounter, keep up the good work.
i just thought i would add some more facts considering this is my favorite venomous snake...
1. The average length of adult copperheads is 30 inches (76 cm).
2. Copperheads are thick-bodied and have keeled (not sure what those are but i remember reading it in my field guide) scales.
3. There is a temperature-sensitive pit organ on each side of the head between the eye and the nostril. I think this is why you saw it that day at 80 degrees because there organs sensed that is was cooling and cloudy. They are one of few snakes not fond to heat.
4. Young copperheads are seven to ten inches (18 to 25 cm) long and grayer in color than adults. Copperheads are sexually dimorphic in size. Males have longer tails then females and females grow to greater lengths.
Dallas
p.s i love these snakes
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