Baby Copperhead Season Is Here: What To Do If You Find One In Your Yard

With the falling autumn leaves, lots of critters find their clever hiding spots under the deadfall, including branches and other brush. One such animal is the copperhead snake, and October is baby copperhead season. Some copperheads are born in August and September so you may see them around anytime during the fall. What does this mean for homeowners? Well, if you live in an area where copperheads dwell, you might bump into some of those snakes cruising through your yard. You'll also want to spot surefire signs you have a snake problem on your hands — like more than one of those snakes hanging out in your yard.

There are some benefits of having snakes in your yard, especially if you're a gardener or want to keep mice from moving indoors, because snakes, including the copperhead, eat rodents and other pests. Unfortunately, while it may be best to leave the snake alone if you do see one (it's just being a snake), there are times when you may want to keep your yard clear of venomous snakes — like if you have pets or children that spend time outside. If you live somewhere from southern New England to West Texas and northern Mexico, you're in the range of these snakes. While copperhead snake bites are rarely fatal, they are still a venomous snake. So, in the case of spotting one or more copperheads in your yard, the first step is to identify that it is, in fact, a copperhead. Then, steps to protect your family and pets include removing food sources and using repellents.

The telltale sign that the baby snake you've just come across in your yard is a copperhead is its distinctive yellow-green coloring on the tail tip. Of course, it also depends on the snake's age. Northern copperheads have a copper head with a reddish-brown body covered in chestnut crossbands that are shaped like hour-glasses, while young snakes may be a bit grayer. However, young snakes have that yellow color on their tail, which fades after about three years.

While you're better off letting that snake be a snake and do its thing, if you need to keep copperheads out of your yard for the protection of your kids or pets, there are a few things you can do that will safely deter these critters from hanging out in your space. Keep the things they're there to eat under control; deal with pests like insects and mice to remove their food source. You can also use a snake repellent in your yard. If all else fails, contact pest control to have a professional safely remove the snakes without anyone getting bitten. During the summer, if you spend a lot of time having bonfires in your yard, we have a backyard activity that could help keep snakes away.