Copperhead Redux

Carmen saw the intruder first. Using her big-girl bark, she alerted me to the danger. I called her off and she came to me. Damn. There lay a copperhead on the edge of the garage concrete, not more than eight feet from where a copperhead bit me in 2012.

 You can’t make this stuff up.

 Earlier this week, I took Carmen out at night to go the bathroom one last time. She didn’t really go and so we retreated to the bedroom and sleep. 

 An hour later, she whined softly and woke me. I guess she did have to go out after all. I put on some shorts and the two of us made our way downstairs. At the door, I slipped on flip flops and hit the garage door opener. Carmen trotted across the garage and then let out several full-throated barks. When she uses her big-girl bark, it catches your attention quickly. What the hell was up?

 She was trotting back and forth about five feet in front of a 2 1/2-foot-long copperhead lying on the edge of the concrete just outside the door. 

 I quickly called her off and thank heavens she listened. We went inside and I put on her leash. We went back outside through a side door where we could walk well clear of the snake. As we came by the big garage door, Carmen and I looked over and the snake was still there. Carmen let out a soft growl. I gave her a tug and we continued to the yard, where I let her go, and she did her business.

 Afterwards, I put her back on the leash, and we returned to the house. The snake was on the move and leaving the concrete, winding away from the house and garage.

 What to do? I am 1-1 with copperheads. One bit me fourteen years ago, and I killed one near the house around ten years ago. Since then, I am a bit smarter and have done a fair amount of research on wildlife sites.

 In general, the best thing is just leave them be and they will disappear on their own. Maybe spray a little water in their direction to encourage them on their way. They are beneficial in many ways if you don’t let one bite you.

 What did I do? Who showed up—old snake-killer Max, or the Max now a bit smarter about snakes? I didn’t get a shovel to decapitate it. Instead, I grabbed my camera to take a photo. I have to admit, the questionable practicality of killing a snake in the dark at midnight also entered my brain. In my haste, I did not change my flip flops for some more substantial footwear.

 Arriving back outside, I saw the snake had moved quickly and was going into some grass near where I’d gathered underground drip hoses I was disposing of.

 I snapped a couple of pictures, and then it was gone. The irony of taking a picture while wearing flip flops was not lost on me. I was wearing flip flops when the snake bit me fourteen years ago.

 

I didn’t sleep particularly well that night. Snakes slithered off and on through my dreams and thoughts. I kept telling myself I made the right decision, but I’m not sure I believed it. Sometimes it is hard to know the truth in the dark of night.

 The next morning, Carmen and I woke and headed outside to feed the horses. I had her on the leash again as I opened the garage door. It was cooler now and there was a slight breeze in the air. I could hear the horses nickering in the nearby pasture and all seemed normal.

 There was no snake on the concrete and after looking around, I let Carmen off leash. She went over and smelled the concrete where the snake had been and then wandered towards the barn. I looked where the snake disappeared the night before and there was nothing I could see. I made plans to clean up that area, cautiously, later during the day.

 I thought too about why the snake was lying on the concrete. The copperhead that bit me was actually in the garage on concrete as well (we had left the door open). I think they may like the coolness of the concrete after the heat of the day. The Virginia Piedmont can be stifling with its summertime heat and humidity. Maybe the concrete becomes the snake’s own personal version of AC.

 Did I do the right thing? I think so. The immediate urge was to kill the snake. The thing is, we live in the country. There are foxes, coyotes, skunks, bear, and the occasional rabid raccoon. And yes, in the Piedmont we have both copperheads and rattlesnakes. In general, we leave each other alone and that works most of the time. 

For a little perspective, we have lived here for 27 years. In that time, we’ve seen four copperheads—the one that bit me, the one I killed, one while Cathy was gardening about 20 years ago, and this one. Those are pretty low odds for a copperhead encounter.

 Still, if the copperhead shows up in the garage, I may well change my mind. You never know for sure what you will do in the instant requiring action.

Addendum:

• If you want to read about the Copperhead biting me in 2012, you can do so here: https://mnhallblog.wordpress.com/2017/07/30/copperhead-hunting-in-flip-flops/
• The night photos of the copperhead worked only because I had a flashlight aimed at the snake at the time. Otherwise, it was too dark.
• The next day, I did clean up the area where the snake disappeared.  I removed all the hosing, and cut the grass low to the ground. Nary a critter to be found.