I stepped over this creature will walking briskly through the woods with ten students following. Can you see it? I didn’t…
…but was alerted by my keen-eyed students. We left the copperhead in peace. Then, we continued our class with renewed mental brightness. No sleepyheads after that encounter.
After years of walking through the woods for work and play, I just this past weekend, while walking and talking rapidly on a gravel trail in the Nolichucky Gorge, put my toe down within less than a centimeter of the middle of a stretched-out copperhead (then leapt like Michael Jordan into my backpacking buddy beside me!). I was amazed that the beautiful creature didn’t budge at all, even when we turned around to take a good look at it. Magnificent, exhilarating, and yes, a wake-up call for the rest of our adventure.
Wow. Heart rate: doubled, I’m sure.
They are amazingly beautiful creatures.
I am ashamed I have killed a few of them. After being bitten at age 5 I developed a great interest in snakes and had great respect for them but bought into the notion that the poisonous ones were to be destroyed. I find them non-aggressive unless they are shedding or stepped on (or fighting for their life!). I would rather move a copperhead than a rat snake because of the much more aggresive nature of the rat snake. I certainly prefere to be aware of any snake be it is under foot as it always takes my breath for a moment. I enjoy watching them hunt and am saddened by any killed.
dale swant
Dale, Given your personal experience (getting bitten while so young — an experience that must surely make the psyche nervous, if not fearful, of any snake) and our deep-seated genetic *and* cultural aversion to poisonous snakes, I think your attitude is commendable.
I always thought the only way to get bitten by a copperhead was to step on one (they’re very non-aggressive). Well I disproved that earlier this summer! Recently I walked within a few inches of another one on my driveway, and luckily again did not get bitten.
Whoa!
They sure make me nervous at close range.
Beautiful!
Lucky!