It has brown scales, with dark brown blotches along its sides that gradually lighten at the middle of the spot. Some reach up to 4 feet in length. Clutches can range anywhere from 3 to 10 young, but typically average 4 to 6. The dorsal scales are weakly keeled. During the winter, they will hibernate or den underground, within rocky areas, in animal burrows, or within hollow logs or stumps. Hikers and climbers in trap rock areas (a favored habitat of copperheads) should be careful of where they place their hands and feet. Indiana is home to 33 native snake species of which only four are venomous. From southern New York, copperheads range west through central Pennsylvania and the southern portions of Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Fall is here -- and that means venomous Northern Copperhead snakes are having babies. 02/26/10 . Small dark spots commonly occur between crossbands on the back. Northern Copperhead RANGE MAP Northern Copperhead photo­Joe McDonald Myths Simply by being snakes, copperheads are often the subject of myths, tall tales and unsubstantiated claims of extraordinary behavior. The northern and southern copperheads occupy the eastern two thirds of the range, and the Osage, broad-banded and Trans-Pecos subspecies occupy the … Copperheads do not have the most toxic venom of snakes in the United States regardless of old wives tales. The copperhead is a venomous snake with a broad triangular head, vertically elliptical pupils and a heat sensitive pit between each eye and nostril. When alarmed, it may violently vibrate its tail. northern_cottonmouth.jpg . Fig. Copperheads are primarily active in New Jersey between the months of May through October. Shortly after emerging from dens, copperheads will seek mates. New Jersey’s copperhead population has declined over the last fifty years due to a number of reasons including habitat loss and fragmentation, illegal collecting, being run-over by cars, and human persecution. More Reptiles and Amphibians. The northern copperhead as a vertical pupil and a single row of scales on the underside of its body after the anal plate  features also found on some venomous snakes in Virginia. This is the Northern Copperhead snake. There are several copperhead subspecies that range through the eastern states of the US; the range is generally from southwestern Massachusettes west to extreme southeastern Nebraska and south to the Florida panhandle and south-central Texas. The range of the northern copperhead extends from Massachusetts in the north and east to Illinois in the west and Georgia and Alabama in the south. Because of the secretive nature and patchy distribution of copperheads, we still have much to learn about their biology and population status in New Jersey. Southern Copperhead vs Northern Copperhead Color Patterns - stock photo {{purchaseLicenseLabel}} {{restrictedAssetLabel}} {{buyOptionLabel(option)}} You have view-only access under this Premium Access agreement. Development threatens the lowlands and meadow edges that are used by the snakes and other wildlife. Research needs to be completed to find additional den sites, check existing dens, and determine whether the population might be decreasing or increasing and by how much. It is ovoviviparous, which means eggs remain internally in the female until they hatch; the young are then born live. The Timber Rattlesnake ranges from central New England south to northern Florida and west to eastern Texas, central Oklahoma, eastern Kansas, southeastern Nebraska, southern and eastern Iowa, and southeastern Minnesota. When alarmed, it may violently vibrate its tail. Pennsylvania non-venomous & venomous snakes information, maps and pictures. In Ohio, it would be called the Northern Copperhead as either (Agkistrodon contortrix) or if subspecies are recognized (Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen). The back is usually a mix of black, brown, and olive green, and the belly is white or cream-colored with black mottling. Its range generally follows the southern limits of huge glaciers that eons ago scraped and ground their way into the northern hemisphere. Northern Water Snake Banded Water Snake Brown Water Snake Cottonmouth range map Round pupil in nonvenomous water snakes. Copperheads feed mostly on small mammals such as mice. Copperheads reside "from southern New England to West Texas and northern Mexico," said Beane, advising those interested to check out range maps in a number of field guides. Background and Conservation Concerns: The timber rattlesnake is one of only two venomous species found in Connecticut; the other is the northern copperhead. On this page I have maps showing the Copperhead Geographical Range.The name is certainly an accurate description for this species. Illegal to harass, kill, collect or possess. They use their tongues to “smell” and find food. In 2016, the New Jersey Endangered and Nongame Advisory Committee recommended changing this species' status from Special Concern to Threatened within the state, but no formal rule proposal has been filed to date. Populations are spread out in Connecticut, but the greatest abundance of copperheads is found in the Central Connecticut Lowland (trap rock) ridges. Distribution . Report a sighting of a banded shorebird or rare species. The Cop­per­head (Agk­istrodon con­tor­trix) is found in 28 states through­out the cen­tral and east­ern United States. Agkistrodon contortrix (24-36", up to 53") MA Status: "Endangered." Its range extends somewhat southwesterly through the Carolinas into Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky and southern Illinois. The water snake is found in and around almost any waterbody or wetland in the state. Created using information from the Indiana DNR. Within their range, copperheads may inhabit rocky wooded hillsides, rocky fields, berry thickets, wooded wetlands, farmlands, and even old mulch piles. Range in Ohio In Ohio this snake has been found in southern counties in the western half of the state, and in all but the northern counties in the eastern half. The northern copperhead grows to a typical length of 61–91 cm (24–36 in), with a maximum of 135 cm (53 in). It is found in North America; its range within the United States is in Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Northern Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and … Habitat Copperheads can thrive in a variety of habitats including rocky, wooded areas, wood and … Young are normally lighter in color than adults and are occasionally mistakenly identified as Copperheads. Within its range, the Eastern Copperhead is likely the most common venomous snake in the Midwest. This species is easy to identify if you know what you’re looking for. Home | Contact Us | Conserve Wildlife Blog | eNews Signup | Calendar of Events | ePostcards | Glossary | Sitemap | About this Site | Support CWF on Amazon Smile, Copyright 2021 Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey. 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