What Time Of Year You're Most Likely To See A Copperhead In Your Yard

The versatile and adaptable copperhead thrives in a variety of climates across the central and eastern United States. You're most likely to see them in the garden in the summer and fall, but the exact peak month depends on where you live. A good rule of thumb is that they like the moderately warm weather as much as people do. 

These snakes, known for their copper-colored heads, are poisonous pit vipers and one of the most common varieties in the U.S. Their tan or brown bodies can grow up to 3 feet long with dark brown, diamond-shaped bands. You're more likely to run into one of these reptiles on a warm day since adults prefer temperatures around 80 degrees Fahrenheit. The month you'll most likely see them in your yard depends on your area, though.  

According to the University of Virginia, copperhead bites peak in July, indicating the time when the most snakes and the most people cross paths in that state. In other places, like South Carolina, August might be the peak time. In Nashville, many consider October the time you are most likely to suffer a bite. The good news is that few people actually die from them. It's probably because these reptiles prefer to avoid people. When they can't, University of Virginia representatives say bites actually do more damage locally at the skin level than throughout the body. Still, seek medical attention if you're bitten.

Bites can also come from baby vipers. Babies tend to arrive in late summer and continue being born through the fall, usually starting in August and continuing into October, so they drastically increase the reptile population and up the odds that you'll run into one in your yard. These young vipers are just as venomous as adults, and they look very similar except for bright yellow tips on their tails. They're less than a foot long and no thicker than a pen.

Expect to find snakes during summer and fall in sheltered spots, such as wood piles or even under covered barbecue pits. At high population surge times, the best defense against the slithering creatures is caution. Don't go barefoot or barehanded in the garden on warm days. The easiest way to get bitten is to garden in flip flops or not use protective gloves, especially when the babies are so little and hard to see.

You can always keep copperheads away from your home with a few strategies, like making sure the grass is mowed. Avoid attracting snakes into your yard in the fall by keeping shrubs trimmed and leaves cleared, so you remove their favorite hiding places. Also, remove any piles of debris, like trash that might be inviting mice, a preferred prey for adults. You can get rid of baby copperhead snakes by reducing their favorite prey, too: Bugs. Be proactive so you'll be prepared when copperhead season rolls around.