Copperhead snake bites and venom
Venom from copperheads is in most cases not deadly. Weakened persons or young or very old individuals may however be seriously inflicted by an envenomation from a copperhead snake. In all cases medical help should be sought immediately when bit.
The copperhead injects its venom through its fangs. The venom is destroying the red blood cells of its prey and small rodents are completely subdued by the venom. Copperhead snakes have jaws that are very flexible and enough to swallow prey larger than twice its own diameter (picture 1).
Picture 1. A Copperhead snake eats a mouse.
In general snake venoms can be divided into three groups:
-
Cytotoxic Venom - venom that destroys cell tissue
-
Neurotoxic Venom - attacks the nervous system (here: heart beat and breathing)
-
Hemotoxic Venom - changes the properties of the victims blood so it can't coagulate
In general the venom of pit-vipers is cytotoxic. Adders and some few cobras have cytotoxic venom as well. Neurotoxic venom is found in mamba snakes and most cobras or in general the elapids. For some reason the venom of copperhead snakes is hemotoxic.
Copperhead snakes are only aggressive in the mating period and copperhead snakes do not hunt in pairs as sometimes told.
Tactics against larger animals
Copperheads are primarily ambushers. When they hunt larger prey they begin the hunt by injecting their venom into the body of the prey. Larger animals can not be subdued instantly but usually escape the initial ambush. However, the prey is hunted down and swallowed when it is completely subdued after a period of time.