mama copperhead & babies

This is our broad-banded copperhead with its (3) newly born babies. Copperheads, like other pitvipers, do not lay eggs.
www.wildlifeonthemove.com

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Pets & Animals

Tags:

• WOTM
• copperhead
• babies
• pitvipers
• vipers
• born

[animan5]

We do outreach programming for all kinds of schools, libraries, scouting groups, etc. We use a variety of animals (mostly reptiles), but snakes are always the favorites. Anyway, people hire us (lots of repeat customers) and we do all ages. We think we - along with other like us - have had a positive effect on peoples' perceptions of reptiles and other lesser-appreciated critters. Your theory on copperhead color change is a good one. They seem to especially love frogs when they are young.

[Powerules]

Is there a nature-related reason (survival) for why babies are dark, and then lighten up as they grow older? Also, what percentage of copperheads survive long enough to become adults?

[animan5]

Yes, although we just get to speculate on what it might be. The prey they eat as they grow changes, so it is most likely related to that. Just like the tail, which is particularly yellowish-green and wormlike when they are young. My best guess on survival, which would vary quite a bit depending on where they live, would be that maybe 25% or so would see their first birthday. Of course, the longer they live, the better their chances of surviving another year.

[dillondude9]

lol why owna poison snake if it bites you o well

[animan5]

Good question. Actually, it's not a pet, and I don't think they should be kept as pets. It is one of our educational animals and has been used in a number of programs.

[killerfishthensum1]

Had one these POP out of a rotten tree stump wile leaf blowing around it. about 3 ft long I bout shit my pants I live in southern Oklahoma and ain't seen one that big ever! Ran to house to get shot gun came back couldn't find it anywhere so its still alive n growing

[DoubleVisionandco]

@DaboiaRusselli I`m in the Deep South. Had one pop up in the garden one afternoon that was about 3 feet long and plump. It lost it`s temper quick and we weren`t bothering it. Rattlers & Cotton mouths don`t worry me. Copperheads and Coral snakes worry me as they don`t give off any warning and they blend right in with leaves. I own 15 acres which isn`t much, but it`s all forrest. Our rule is, non venomous snakes we don`t harm. We kill venomous ones to help keep the neighborhood kids safe.

[DaboiaRusselli]

@DoubleVisionandco That's interesting, my experience with copperheads has been that they're generally pretty laid-back...although there was a study that found that they were quicker to bite than canebrake rattlesnakes or cottonmouths - they guessed it was b/c they don't have a defensive display or sound like the cottonmouth's gape & the rattler's rattle. (Those were southern copperheads, the ones I've met are northerns.)

It's true, their camouflage is impressive, esp. among fallen leaves.

[DaboiaRusselli]

What sort of educational programs do your snakes assist in? :) (e.g., for any particular age group, do you work with zoos or schools or suchlike, how do you get people to attend, etc.?)

I think it's great that you're doing this. Education can decrease fear of snakes, prevent most snakebites, and generally improve relations between humans & snakes.

I'm guessing the color change is b/c of ontogenetic change in habitat due to the change in food preference. What do baby broad-bandeds like to eat?

[giigiio69]

aww so cute i love snakes 

[Radwoem]

It would be an excellent study. And relatively easy to do...but who wants to stress their reptiles? I have a juvenile (approximately a year old) southern copperhead who has finally started accepting mice (he was an inveterate anole-eater before the mice). I could try the glove bite trick with him then get an unbitten glove to see if venom is present on the second bite (and third). But it would be very stressful for Sunny. He is also an educator snake like your beautiful mama A. contortrix l

[animan5]

@Radwoem Thanks for the note. But who knows? After all, venomous snakes have to feed themselves from day 1. So, it would make sense that they are able to administer venom when they need to. Maybe yours chose not to after already spending some on the glove. I know of no scientific studies addressing this question (unfortunately). Like I say, who knows?

[Radwoem]

@animan5 The only thing that makes me think maybe (and this could just as easily been a fluke) neonates can't control their output is because I was fanged by a baby canebrake. Only it was a dry-bite (thank the money-saving gods). Before the incident occurred, it was crawling on the ground and nailed a glove that was laying in its path. I saw the wet spots (indicating venom, of course), and I accredit that glove with receiving the venom that I would have. I did not go to the hospital.

[face856and252]

she seems fairly protective of her young ones ... i think she can handle the job.

shivers!!!