Lynda,
I enjoyed your post about the copperhead, and want to congratulate you for
having a no kill policy toward snakes.
You stated, " A few years ago, while on crutches for a newly broken ankle, a
Copperhead managed to get into my living room and was coiled up in front of the
bookcases." Sorry, but I can't resist asking --- How do you suppose the snake
broke its ankle?
We have rattlesnakes on our property in Highland County, and I find them quite
beautiful. I do wear snake-proof chaps and heavy boots when I pick
blackberries, however.
Margaret O'Bryan
-----Original Message-----
From: Thomas M Blair <tomlyn@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: va-bird <va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Mon, 26 Jun 2006 23:57:23 -0400
Subject: [va-bird] Re: Copperheads ( A true story)
Barbara,
As a resident of rural New Kent County, I have seen my share of Copperheads.
Every time the land is cleared and a new house goes up, the snakes are driven
out of their habitat. A few years ago, while on crutches for a newly broken
ankle, a Copperhead managed to get into my living room and was coiled up in
front of the bookcases. My husband was out of town at the time, so I shut the
french doors, kept an eye on the snake and called the Sheriff's Dept. When Andy
and Barney arrived, they got a broom from the pantry and shoved it out the
front door, where it remained for about 2 days and then vanished. Apparently it
had come up a tree on the side of the house, gotten into the attic and the
ductwork, where it dropped down from the ceiling duct onto the sofa where I was
just sleeping. Had I not made my way out to the kitchen to fix a cup of tea, it
would have dropped on my head.. I'm sure it really didn't want to be there, but
probably smelled the mice in my attic. Normally when we
see them, we just put our dogs in the house and ignore the snake. They go
away.
We did have one very large Copperhead get into the Guinea Fowl pen, swallow an
egg and get stuck in the wire, where it died before we noticed it.
I find it interesting that we have never caught a Copperhead in our netting,
even though they are around our property. Only black snakes. If we did catch
one, though..I can't guarantee that we would cut it out of the netting. I think
it would be too scary, and I don't have a rehabber nearby that will take
snakes. If we haven't caught one in 16 years, I doubt that we will.
Live and let live is my motto
Thanks for the info..very interesting
Lynda Blair
----- Original Message -----
From: Barbara Farron
To: suzanne_richman@xxxxxxxxxxx ; tomlyn@xxxxxxxxxxx ; va-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Monday, June 26, 2006 10:50 AM
Subject: Re: [va-bird] Re: Nest boxes- a cautionary tale
As an amateur herpetologist, I'm compelled to jump in here. Rattlesnakes were
intentionally wiped out in Fairfax County, Virginia, years ago. The copperhead
(Agkistrodon contortrix) is the only venomous snake in Northern Virginia, and
their population has also declined, partially through loss of habitat, and
partially because people do kill them. Copperhead venom is relatively weak and
is seldom, if ever, fatal to a human being. Typical of all snakes, copperheads
would rather flee and avoid people, although they will strike if they feel
cornered or trapped.
Unfortunately, many people kill every snake they see. Too many seem to believe
that all snakes are venomous, and all grow large enough to eat human beings.
The truth is that most snakes are small, harmless, and are an asset because
they primarily eat rodents. (Some of our native snakes are so small that their
diet consists of earthworms, tiny slugs, and insects.)
Yes, some snakes do eat nestlings, but as has been mentioned here, there are
ways of keeping them out of nestboxes.
Barbara Farron
Springfield, VA
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