Sick of summer? So are copperheads. Where and when you’ll find them in Kentucky
If you’re sick of this summer heatwave, know that Kentucky’s most common venomous snake is right there with you.
To avoid overheating during the hottest parts of the day, copperheads will change up their routines and become more active in the evening hours or at night during the summer, said Steven Price, a University of Kentucky herpetologist.
While bites against humans are relatively uncommon and copperheads generally prefer forested areas away from people, bites have been known to happen at night.
“Most people that get bit by copperheads step on them at night,” Price said, adding people often go barefoot or are wearing sandals in those cases. “The person doesn’t see them and it startles the copperhead.”
If you prefer to walk the dog, go for a jog or mow the lawn in the evening hours to escape the heat, here’s what to know about where you can expect to find copperheads in Kentucky this summer.
What are Kentucky copperheads doing in the summer?
This time of year, copperheads are between their two mating seasons in the spring and fall. So the biggest activity they’re devoting their energy to is feeding, particularly if the females are due to give birth to their live young in August or early September. That’s right, copperheads do not lay eggs.
“One interesting thing is copperheads really like to eat cicadas,” Price said. “I suppose this last cicada boom was a really important food resource for them.”
While people often think of reptiles as cold-blooded, Price says that’s a bit of a misconception. Scientists prefer the term “ectotherms,” which essentially means the animal dependent on external sources of body heat. Reptiles do not pant or sweat as mammals do, so they rely on sources of shade to stay cool.
That adaptation lends itself well to copperhead’s choice of habitat: densely forested areas or at least those with woody debris and vegetation. Copperheads can be found throughout Kentucky, though they are less common in the inner Bluegrass region around Lexington, per UK. If you live near such an area, it’s possible you may encounter a copperhead. That said, you don’t need to live in fear of them, just be mindful and give them space.
“They don’t want to interact with you,” Price said, adding snakes see humans as giant predators. “They’re afraid of you and want to get away.”
How to keep copperheads out of your yard
First, it helps to think about what might attract a copperhead to your yard.
Copperheads feed on small mammals, frogs, lizards, birds and insects, such as cicadas, according to a University of Kentucky profile of the snake species. Areas that attract rodents could also be a draw for a copperhead.
Excess clutter or vegetation on your property could also attract copperheads seeking shelter from the open sun.
Some potential draws for copperheads, and snakes in general, include:
Tall grass, thick vegetation and other plants that offer cover.
Water sources like rivers and streams. Those could be a draw for water queensnakes or garter snakes, neither of which are venomous.
Wood piles, rock walls and similar debris.
Feeders that can draw small birds or rodents that are prey for snakes.
Quiet storage areas, like basements or crawl spaces, which can serve as safe spaces for snakes to overwinter or shed their skin.
Underneath structures, such as a backyard deck. According to Price, it’s not unheard for a snake to sun itself on a deck. More typically though, decks provide a structure they can quickly duck under if needed.
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