Venomous Snakes

Copperhead--This species is one of the most common of all snakes in this area. Even though their bite to humans is not life threatening it cause great pain and tissue damage. They are found in a variety of habitats throughout the region from wooded areas, farmlands and meadows. Adults feed mainly on rodents while young feed on frogs and other small vertebrates. Other snakes are often confused for coperheads but the hourglass like pattern is unique to this species in our area. Young copperheads have a yellowish tail they use to lure frogs. They hunt at night during warmer parts of the year. The specimen below was found unde some tin on a warm spring day.


                                        This is a specimen from Guilford Co.

 

This is a specimen from Surry Co.

Timber Rattlesnake--This is the only 

Rattlesnake species found in this region. Unlike Copperheads it is mainly a snake found on large tracts of undeveloped land, which is becoming scarce now days and thus this species is becoming scarce. This is a protected species in NC. In this area they are only found in the Raven Knob and the more remote parts of Low Gap and in isolated pockets in the Sauratown Mountains. They will gather in groups to spend the winter. These den sites are usually rocky south facing slopes. Females will usually not venture far from these sites, using the rocks to warm themselves in order to incubate their young which are born alive in late summer. This is not an aggressive species and bites from Timber Rattlers are rare but can be serious.

The photo above and below are of a well known den site in Stokes Co. This population was studied by a biologist that is friends of my father. Radio telementry was implanted in the snakes which allowed the snakes to be tracked. A lot of useful information was gained from this project such as the slow growth and low reproductivity of this species which makes it difficult for this species to rebound from population losses.
These rocky dens are also used by other species such as Copperheads and many non-venomous snakes can be found on these rocky slopes too.