Wildlife officers issued a warning in Somerset County, New Jersey, to be on guard for northern copperhead snakes after one of many species was seen final week in Watchung, a Backyard State borough that’s lower than an hour from New York Metropolis.
The northern copperhead snake is described as having two shades of copper or a reddish-brown coloration.
It “inhabits rocky fields, berry thickets, woodlands and farmlands and will even be found amongst previous mulch piles,” stated the N.J. Division of Fish and Wildlife in a “Snakes of New Jersey” publication.
This species is certainly one of two venomous snakes present in New Jersey, in line with the identical supply.
“There have at all times been copperheads within the northern half of New Jersey and most of the people who dwell in copperhead areas coexist with them with out battle, typically with out even realizing they’re there,” stated Tyler Christensen, a PhD candidate learning copperheads at Rutgers College’s Division of Ecology, Evolution and Pure Assets in New Brunswick, New Jersey.
“The perfect factor a resident can do is discover ways to inform copperheads other than extra widespread nonvenomous snake species — akin to water snakes, milk snakes and garter snakes — and perceive the way to reply in the event that they see a copperhead.”
Though the warning was issued for New Jersey, the snakes are prevalent in different components of the nation.
Right here’s a deeper dive.
What else ought to individuals find out about copperheads?
Copperheads are a lot much less harmful than their status suggests, Christensen informed Fox Information Digital.
“They’re surprisingly calm and docile, counting on their camouflage slightly than their venom to defend themselves from predators and people,” he famous.
“A chunk is often delivered as a last-resort defensive effort, and their venom is gentle relative to most vipers.”
How do these snakes cover within the open air?
These snakes typically mix into their environment.
“Copperheads are extraordinarily cryptic (i.e. camouflaged) to allow them to be very troublesome to identify towards a background of leaves, brush and twigs,” Scott L. Parker, PhD, professor and chair of the Division of Biology at Coastal Carolina College in Conway, South Carolina, informed Fox Information Digital.
Parker warned individuals to keep away from touching or approaching copperhead snakes if these animals are seen or encountered.
“Copperheads don’t need something to do with people,” he stated.
“They won’t assault, and if left alone they’ll shortly attempt to escape.”
“To keep away from by accident getting bit, don’t put your palms and ft wherever the place you possibly can’t see them, and at all times put on sneakers and use a flashlight when strolling outdoors at nightfall or after darkish in the summertime.”
Parker additionally stated, “Thousands and thousands of individuals within the japanese U.S., particularly within the Southeast, dwell in shut proximity to copperheads and don’t even notice that they’re shut by.”
What’s one of the simplest ways to remain protected?
To forestall attainable encounters with copperheads, the College of Virginia offers these recommendations on its web site:
- Put on boots when mountaineering and keep away from open-toed footwear
- Use a flashlight at night time when strolling after sundown
- Know that banks of streams, rivers and lakes are widespread locations the place snakes may be discovered.
- By no means contact or choose up a snake
In the event you encounter a copperhead in a pure setting, typically it’s best to merely go away it alone, Christensen at Rutgers College really useful.
“Most bites happen when individuals attempt to deal with or transfer the snake by themselves,” he added.
“If you’re bitten by a copperhead, don’t try to seize or kill the snake,” he additionally stated.
“Simply get your self to a hospital for remedy.”