Don’t kill copperheads, experts say

Copperheads came out of hibernation just a few weeks ago, and they are on the move, looking for food and mates.

Copperheads are far less dangerous than Virginia's two other venomous serpents, the rattlesnake and the eastern cottonmouth.

That's because copperheads are typically smaller and create a weaker venom, experts say.

Named for its rusty color, the copperhead can be found across Virginia. It is the only venomous snake in the immediate Richmond area.

Rattlers live in the mountains and in far southeastern Virginia. Cottonmouths also live in southeastern Virginia, with an isolated population in the Colonial Heights area.

If you find a copperhead on your land and don't want it there, reptile expert J.D. Kleopfer suggests moving it along with a broom or using a broom to direct it into a trash can. Put a tight lid on the can, and dump the snake in some distant woods.

Kleopfer asked that people not kill copperheads. "More people are killed by dogs, but if you see a stray dog walking down the road, you are not going to" kill it.

Biologist Joseph C. Mitchell, author of "The Reptiles of Virginia," offered another reason to let copperheads live: "They are great rodent eaters. They play a major role in controlling rodent populations."

Copperheads like to hide, but they will bite if you get too close -- say, when you're picking up leaves or poking around in a woodpile.

"They are not an aggressive snake whatsoever," Kleopfer said. "They will not chase you. . . . They would prefer to be left alone."