Snake experts advising Upper Cumberland residents to maintain clear yards as the birthing season for copperheads and timber rattlesnakes concludes.
Emeritus Professor of Biology Danny Bryan said birthing for these species typically occurs between August and October. Hibernation begins within the next three weeks as the snakes move underground for the season.
“Just remember this, if you’re close enough to kill it, you’re close enough to get bit,” Bryan said. “A venomous snakebite can be quite expensive. I would say upwards of $150,000. So avoidance is the big thing. Just leave the animal alone unless it’s an immediate threat.”
Bryan said the common belief that baby snakes are more dangerous because they cannot regulate venom is a myth. While a young snake might release its entire venom supply, the total amount is significantly less than what an adult can deliver.
“If you don’t feel comfortable with removing the snakes, and that’s when people get bit, when they don’t know what they’re doing or how to handle the snakes, they can always call someone or a professional to come remove the snakes,” Bryan said.
Bryan said homeowners should remove woodpiles, junk, and bird feeders to eliminate the food, cover, and water that attract snakes. Bird feeders are particularly problematic because they attract rodents, which serve as a primary food source for venomous snakes.
“Birds are sloppy eaters, when they eat, they throw out birdseed on the ground and that’s going to attract rodents which is going to attract the snakes,” Bryan said. “But keeping yards and areas manicured, keeping the trash up, the snakes aren’t going to hang around.”
Bryan said residents can identify newborn copperheads by their chartreuse tail tips, which the snakes wiggle like worms to lure lizards. This coloration typically fades after one year of age.
“For a copperhead, the patterns are going to look like Hershey kisses,” Bryan said. “So they’ll be narrow at the spine and as they move down the body they’ll widen up towards the belly, kind of like a Hershey kiss.”
Bryan said anyone bitten by a snake should call 911 immediately and remove restrictive items like rings, watches, or shoes to accommodate swelling. He cautioned against using tourniquets or attempting to cut and suck the venom, as these methods can cause infection and increase tissue damage.
“The venom is a histotoxin, so if it’s concentrated in one area, it’s going to do more damage,” Bryan said. “So let it dilute, let it spread and dilute out.”
Bryan said a snake can still bite for more than an hour after it has been killed.
