Copperhead

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Copperhead

The copperhead is a poisonous (venomous) pit viper found in central and eastern North America. Copperheads usually leave distinctive double marks on the skin. They leave one, two, or three puncture marks on the skin, but you won't always see any marks.

A copperhead has:

Hourglass-shaped markings down the back.
Pitlike depressions behind the nostril.
A triangular head with slit-shaped pupils and fangs.
A single row of plates or scales on the undersurface of the snake.

A copperhead does not have rattles but may shake its tail in warning. The snakes can be as long as .

Symptoms of a bite from a copperhead usually appear from minutes to hours after the bite and include:

Severe, immediate pain with rapid swelling.
Discoloration of the skin.
Difficult or rapid breathing.
Changes in heart rate or rhythm.
Metallic, rubbery, or minty taste in the mouth.
Numbness or tingling around the mouth, tongue, scalp, feet, or the bite area.
Swelling in lymph nodes near the bite injury.
Signs of shock.

If you think you have been bitten by a copperhead, call 911 or other emergency services immediately.

Credits

Author	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA
Editor	Sydney Youngerman-Cole, RN, BSN, RNC
Associate Editor	Tracy Landauer
Primary Medical Reviewer	William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer	Sean P. Bush, MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine and Envenomation Specialist
Last Updated	July 20, 2006

Last updated:	July 20, 2006
Author:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA
Reviewed By:	William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine, Sean P. Bush, MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine and Envenomation Specialist
Editors:	Sydney Youngerman-Cole, RN, BSN, RNC, Tracy Landauer

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