Found This Little Beauty in the Back Yard Last Evening

[pitbulllady]

Actually one of my dad's yard cats found it. She wasn't trying to hurt it, just sitting and staring at what appeared to be an innocuous patch of grass and leaves. My father went to see what had the cat's attention, and he couldn't make out anything there, so he called me over. It did not take me long to spot that tell-tale pattern and bright yellow tail, which neonates of this species, the Southern Copperhead(Agkistron contortrix contortrix), use as a lure for small frogs, lizards, etc. Went and grabbed the trusty pocket snake hook and got him boxed right up in his own enclosure. I can't see any evidence that the cat had injured him, or vice versa, since both cat and viper are fine. In fact, I went ahead and thawed up a frozen "hopper" mouse, just to see if the little snake(he's about six-seven inches long, tops)would eat, and to my delight he voraciously snatched the mouse right off of tongs and scarfed it down! He's got a neat pattern, too, a bit aberrant, with the trademark Copperhead "house glass/Hersey's Kisses" pattern looking a bit "melted". He definitely has plenty of attitude and won't hesitate to strike, either, but at least he'll ride a snake hook as long as I let him, which is another Copperhead trait. I am undecided if I'm going to keep him or pass him on to someone who is interested in him to breed to a genetic striped specimen.

pitbulllady

 

[The Snark]

Sounds like kismet to me! :clap::clap::clap:

 

[Najakeeper]

Neat looking snake, great find . Glad neither the cat nor the snake were hurt.

 

[Python]

Nice find. Those are beautiful snakes. I haven't seen one in years in the wild. Good find!

 

[Galapoheros]

I've kept a few adults but they never did eat so I let them go asap, that's cool that one is eating with no probs. I think they are nice looking snakes too. Don't all the sub sps babies have yellow tails? I think the closely related cottonmouth babies have yellow tails too but I'm not sure, didn't bother to look it up before typing this but I think that's the case.

 

[CitizenNumber9]

He's absolutely adorable! You could always give him to me We'll just ignore the fact that I have zero experience with venemous snakes

 

[The Snark]

He's absolutely adorable! You could always give him to me We'll just ignore the fact that I have zero experience with venemous snakes

Can I get named a beneficiary on your insurance policy?

 

[just1moreT]

Those copper heads are pretty and there thick as ticks almost here in north arkansas I have seen 32 and bigger around here ,good mice catchers around chicken house.i know people been bit by them they swell there leg up where they caint get there leg in there pants I had a dog once got bit on the tongue it swelled out his mouth and drooled all night next day he was better and ready grab snakes again lol

 

[Smokehound714]

Ya know, on first glance if you didnt know what that was, you'd wanna pick it up, because it's the cutest thing ever and it's so attractive.

 

[Spepper]

Ya know, on first glance if you didnt know what that was, you'd wanna pick it up, because it's the cutest thing ever and it's so attractive.

I'd have that problem too. Good thing it wasn't me that found it.

 

[The Snark]

Ya know, on first glance if you didnt know what that was, you'd wanna pick it up, because it's the cutest thing ever and it's so attractive.

Get tagged a few times, or once by a rattler. You'll find yourself approaching black rat snakes with grave concern.

 

[Zigana]

I just can't see a copperhead as cute and adorable, more like expensive hospital visit along with having some pain issues. The photo is very good that you took. It will help people that haven't seen one in person to know what to watch out for. I like snakes just not the poisonous ones.

 

[freedumbdclxvi]

I like snakes just not the poisonous ones.

What about venomous ones?

 

[Zigana]

What about venomous ones?

LOL ..ok venomous snakes.

 

[pitbulllady]

I like all snakes, no matter how venomous. They all have their good points. Copperhead venom, for instance, is being used to destroy breast cancer tumors with great success and far fewer side effects than chemo, while having no effect on healthy tissue. How cool is that? To me, Copperheads are among our most beautiful native snakes. Incidentally, I HAVE been bitten by one, and while not a pleasant experience, it wasn't the worst thing I've been through by a long shot. In fact, I live with daily pain that is worse, from degenerative spondylosis/sciatica and a severely arthritic knee, the result of a patellar fracture/luxation with torn ligaments and maniscus, and an inch-diameter stick being driven two inches into the flesh right below that same broken kneecap, in a single fall. Now THAT is pain, people!

pitbulllady

 

[CitizenNumber9]

Can I get named a beneficiary on your insurance policy?

Sure I think I have a couple extra pieces of bubblegum in my college fund...

 

[Beary Strange]

He's very lovely. I like copperheads; I've even saved a few babies on occasion when I lived down there. Everyone thought I was crazy but I mean, come on look at them. :3