Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Wow, this has been a great weekend wrt snakes. That little Dekay's (Brown) snake was just a warm-up. My friend's neighbor called me this morning and told me a Copperhead has beenlaying in her flower garden for the last few weeks. To her credit, she resisted the neighbors' requests to kill it. She sounded pretty knowledgeable after I grilled her, so I got together my venomous snake gear (hockey sticks, spaghetti tongs, thick gloves, etc.) and drove up to Raleigh. (I'm joking around a bit, but don't get me wrong, I have a good understanding of what I was getting into, and I know my boundaries.)

Anyway, when I got to the lady's house, she took me over to where the snake was, and she said, "There it is." I said, "Uh, I don't see it." After about 10 seconds I finally could see the outline of the snake. It was curled up in the leaves, and the camoflauge was so good I was stunned. After 10 minutes of planning in my head, I was able to get the snake (it was decent sized, about 2 1/2 to 3 ft. long) in the tongs and into the sterilite container. Again, these snakes demand respect, it's NO JOKING MATTER. If you get too close and the snake decides to strike, you will get tagged. As far as being "dangerous", they are very non-aggressive and unwilling to bite unless really bothered. It did strike a few times after it was secured in the container, and the speed at which it did so was incredible.

To top it all off, despite the healthy distance I gave to him, I was able to get some pretty good pics! After the picture session, I drove it to an isolated wooded area and released him.

What a thrill, hope you enjoy the pics. This is a stunningly beautiful snake, imo. The eyes were incredible looking. They were a shiny copper color. Oh, and he did leave me a nice (smelly) momento in the Sterilite as a "Thank you" for saving him.

Thanks,
Ed

very nice, I am glad the woman didn't have it killed, GOOD JOB!!

I have yet to see a copperhead in NJ, seen Timber rattle snakes though. Go figure they are an endangered species lol.
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Roberts Realm Of Reptile Research
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Thanks,

I opened my mouth and out flowed a melody black.

Whereabouts in NJ do you live, obviously must be in South Jersey. I grew up in central NJ, so other than the occasional garter snake in what little woods there were, I never saw many snakes up there.

>>very nice, I am glad the woman didn't have it killed, GOOD JOB!!
>>
>>I have yet to see a copperhead in NJ, seen Timber rattle snakes though. Go figure they are an endangered species lol.
>>-----
>>=========================================================
>> Roberts Realm Of Reptile Research
>>=========================================================
>>Thanks,
>>
>>Frank Roberts
>>
>>
>>
>>I opened my mouth and out flowed a melody black.

>Whereabouts in NJ do you live, obviously must be in South Jersey.

Actually I live in Central Jersey (Woodbridge Township).

I have not seen rattlesnakes around this part if Jersey. I have found one shed in south Jersey and have seen several rattlesnakes in North Jersey in October and November at a dening site my friend Jim Found.

I grew up in central NJ, so other than the occasional garter snake in what little woods there were, I never saw many snakes up there.
>>
>>>>very nice, I am glad the woman didn't have it killed, GOOD JOB!!
>>>>
>>>>I have yet to see a copperhead in NJ, seen Timber rattle snakes though. Go figure they are an endangered species lol.
>>>>-----
>>>>=========================================================
>>>> Roberts Realm Of Reptile Research
>>>>=========================================================
>>>>Thanks,
>>>>
>>>>Frank Roberts
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>I opened my mouth and out flowed a melody black.

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=========================================================
Roberts Realm Of Reptile Research
=========================================================
Thanks,

I opened my mouth and out flowed a melody black.

I grew up in Middlesex Township. Small world!

>>>Whereabouts in NJ do you live, obviously must be in South Jersey.
>>
>>Actually I live in Central Jersey (Woodbridge Township).
>>
>>I have not seen rattlesnakes around this part if Jersey. I have found one shed in south Jersey and have seen several rattlesnakes in North Jersey in October and November at a dening site my friend Jim Found.
>>
>>
>>
>> I grew up in central NJ, so other than the occasional garter snake in what little woods there were, I never saw many snakes up there.
>>>>
>>>>>>very nice, I am glad the woman didn't have it killed, GOOD JOB!!
>>>>>>
>>>>>>I have yet to see a copperhead in NJ, seen Timber rattle snakes though. Go figure they are an endangered species lol.
>>>>>>-----
>>>>>>=========================================================
>>>>>> Roberts Realm Of Reptile Research
>>>>>>=========================================================
>>>>>>Thanks,
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Frank Roberts
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>I opened my mouth and out flowed a melody black.
>>
>>
>>-----
>>=========================================================
>> Roberts Realm Of Reptile Research
>>=========================================================
>>Thanks,
>>
>>Frank Roberts
>>
>>
>>
>>I opened my mouth and out flowed a melody black.

Basically Garter and Water snakes. Someone I know caught a Milk snake in Edison Township.

There is also Black Racers, Dekay snakes, Red belly snakes, and Hog Nose snakes I have caught in Woodbridge and Middlesex Township.

In my yard only an occasional Garter snake.

>>I grew up in Middlesex Township. Small world!
>>
>>>>>Whereabouts in NJ do you live, obviously must be in South Jersey.
>>>>
>>>>Actually I live in Central Jersey (Woodbridge Township).
>>>>
>>>>I have not seen rattlesnakes around this part if Jersey. I have found one shed in south Jersey and have seen several rattlesnakes in North Jersey in October and November at a dening site my friend Jim Found.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> I grew up in central NJ, so other than the occasional garter snake in what little woods there were, I never saw many snakes up there.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>very nice, I am glad the woman didn't have it killed, GOOD JOB!!
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>I have yet to see a copperhead in NJ, seen Timber rattle snakes though. Go figure they are an endangered species lol.
>>>>>>>>-----
>>>>>>>>=========================================================
>>>>>>>> Roberts Realm Of Reptile Research
>>>>>>>>=========================================================
>>>>>>>>Thanks,
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>Frank Roberts
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>I opened my mouth and out flowed a melody black.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>-----
>>>>=========================================================
>>>> Roberts Realm Of Reptile Research
>>>>=========================================================
>>>>Thanks,
>>>>
>>>>Frank Roberts
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>I opened my mouth and out flowed a melody black.
-----
=========================================================
Roberts Realm Of Reptile Research
=========================================================
Thanks,

I opened my mouth and out flowed a melody black.

Awesome that you were able to relocate it safely. Sure is a pretty snake, but I have to admit I'd be scared to get near it, having seen some pics of what happens when you do get tagged by one. It's not pretty at all, and I can't imagine it feels very good either.
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0.1 Albino Leopard Gecko - Tigger
0.1 Crested Gecko - Pooh-Bear

Ed,
....GOOD JOB!! I do like Coperheads. If I was to decide to keep a hot snake a Coperhead it would be.
Jeff

>>Wow, this has been a great weekend wrt snakes. That little Dekay's (Brown) snake was just a warm-up. My friend's neighbor called me this morning and told me a Copperhead has beenlaying in her flower garden for the last few weeks. To her credit, she resisted the neighbors' requests to kill it. She sounded pretty knowledgeable after I grilled her, so I got together my venomous snake gear (hockey sticks, spaghetti tongs, thick gloves, etc.) and drove up to Raleigh. (I'm joking around a bit, but don't get me wrong, I have a good understanding of what I was getting into, and I know my boundaries.)
>>
>>Anyway, when I got to the lady's house, she took me over to where the snake was, and she said, "There it is." I said, "Uh, I don't see it." After about 10 seconds I finally could see the outline of the snake. It was curled up in the leaves, and the camoflauge was so good I was stunned. After 10 minutes of planning in my head, I was able to get the snake (it was decent sized, about 2 1/2 to 3 ft. long) in the tongs and into the sterilite container. Again, these snakes demand respect, it's NO JOKING MATTER. If you get too close and the snake decides to strike, you will get tagged. As far as being "dangerous", they are very non-aggressive and unwilling to bite unless really bothered. It did strike a few times after it was secured in the container, and the speed at which it did so was incredible.
>>
>>To top it all off, despite the healthy distance I gave to him, I was able to get some pretty good pics! After the picture session, I drove it to an isolated wooded area and released him.
>>
>>What a thrill, hope you enjoy the pics. This is a stunningly beautiful snake, imo. The eyes were incredible looking. They were a shiny copper color. Oh, and he did leave me a nice (smelly) momento in the Sterilite as a "Thank you" for saving him.
>>
>>Thanks,
>>Ed
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>

Very nice Eddie, very clean pattern. I'm glad you handled the situation the way you did! The copperhead looks so nice and clean that I wonder if it shed recently?
B

Did you get any pics of it "hidden" in the leaves where you first saw it?

Great story and dang it LOOKS great, too bad they are hots!!!
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Thanks,

Dave Colling

www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com

0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)

LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
26.49 BRB
20.21 BCI
And those are only the breeders

lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

I intentionally didn't take the camera along with me "on site", since I didn't really know what to expect and didn't want any distractions. I might have been able to get some great camouflage pics. There was really no way you would have seen that thing (and it wasn't that small of a snake, either) if you didn't know it was there. And even then it took me 10-20 seconds to see it! On the other hand, I might have quickly lost the snake had I been futzing with the camera. He had escape routes all around him, and there was not a whole lot of space to work with. I did actually lose him after my first attempt, but luckily after he went under the deck stairs, he just sat there! I put the spaghetti tongs in between the steps, grabbed him, and pulled him out between the steps. Needless to say, we won't be having spaghetti for a few days...

Thanks,
Ed

>>Did you get any pics of it "hidden" in the leaves where you first saw it?
>>
>>
>>Great story and dang it LOOKS great, too bad they are hots!!!
>>-----
>>Thanks,
>>
>>
>>Dave Colling
>>
>>www.rainbows-r-us-reptiles.com
>>
>>
>>
>>0.1 Wife (WC and still very fiesty)
>>0.2 kids (CBB, a big part of our selective breeding program)
>>
>>LOL, to many snakes to list, last count:
>>26.49 BRB
>>20.21 BCI
>>And those are only the breeders
>>
>>lots.lots.lots feeder mice and rats

.. to see a good story unfold for a change. Usually it's the complete opposite - someone chops off the head of a completely harmless (garter, water, etc.) snake. So there is a glimmer of hope for the human race...

I'm glad you saved it! I wish we had more snakes where I live (St. Paul, Minnesota). I haven't seen one anywhere near my house since I was a kid. The area has just gotten too built up. (Although oddly enough I'll get deer, fox, wild turkeys, raccoons, woodchucks, raptors, etc. in my suburban yard even more frequently than when I was young.) At least I occasionally see snakes in city parks, especially near water.
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Renee
1.0 BRB (Loki)
2.0 amel & anery corns (Foxfire & Daguerre)
0.1 blood python (Duchess, arriving later this month)
1.1 Cats (Nightshade & Cuzzy)