Wildlife officials issued a warning in Somerset County, New Jersey, to be on guard for northern copperhead snakes after one of the species was seen last week in Watchung, a Garden State borough that’s less than an hour from New York City.

The northern copperhead snake is described as having two shades of copper or a reddish-brown color.

It “inhabits rocky fields, berry thickets, woodlands and farmlands and may even be discovered among old mulch piles,” said the N.J. Division of Fish and Wildlife in a “Snakes of New Jersey” publication.

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This species is one of two venomous snakes found in New Jersey, according to the same source.

“There have always been copperheads in the northern half of New Jersey and most people who live in copperhead areas coexist with them without conflict, often without even realizing they are there,” said Tyler Christensen, a PhD candidate studying copperheads at Rutgers University’s Department of Ecology, Evolution and Natural Resources in New Brunswick, New Jersey.

“The best thing a resident can do is learn how to tell copperheads apart from more common nonvenomous snake species — such as water snakes, milk snakes and garter snakes — and understand how to respond if they see a copperhead.”

Although the warning was issued for New Jersey, the snakes are prevalent in other parts of the nation. 

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Here’s a deeper dive.

What else should people know about copperheads?

Copperheads are much less dangerous than their reputation suggests, Christensen told Fox News Digital. 

“They are surprisingly calm and docile, relying on their camouflage rather than their venom to defend themselves from predators and humans,” he noted. 

These snakes rely mostly on their camouflage to stay safe from predators and humans. “A bite is usually delivered as a last-resort defensive effort, and their venom is mild relative to most vipers.” (iStock)

“A bite is usually delivered as a last-resort defensive effort, and their venom is mild relative to most vipers.”

How do these snakes hide in the outdoors?

These snakes often blend into their surroundings. 

“Copperheads are extremely cryptic (i.e. camouflaged) so they can be very difficult to spot against a background of leaves, brush and twigs,” Scott L. Parker, PhD, professor and chair of the Department of Biology at Coastal Carolina University in Conway, South Carolina, told Fox News Digital.

“Don’t put your hands and feet anywhere where you can’t see them.”

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Parker warned people to avoid touching or approaching copperhead snakes if these animals are seen or encountered.

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“Copperheads don’t want anything to do with humans,” he said. They will not attack, and if left alone they will quickly try to escape.”

“Millions of people in the eastern U.S., especially in the Southeast, live in close proximity to copperheads and don’t even realize” that these snakes are nearby.  (iStock)

“To avoid accidentally getting bit, don’t put your hands and feet anywhere where you can’t see them, and always wear shoes and use a flashlight when walking outside at dusk or after dark in the summer.”

Parker also said, “Millions of people in the eastern U.S., especially in the Southeast, live in close proximity to copperheads and don’t even realize that they are close by.”

What’s the best way to stay safe?

To prevent possible encounters with copperheads, the University of Virginia provides these tips on its website:

• Wear boots when hiking and avoid open-toed footwear
• Use a flashlight at night when walking after sunset
• Know that banks of streams, rivers and lakes are common places where snakes can be found.
• Never touch or pick up a snake

“Most bites occur when people try to handle or move the snake by themselves.” (iStock)

If you encounter a copperhead in a natural setting, in most cases you should simply leave it alone, Christensen at Rutgers University recommended. 

“Most bites occur when people try to handle or move the snake by themselves,” he added.

“If you are bitten by a copperhead, don’t attempt to capture or kill the snake,” he also said.

“Just get yourself to a hospital for treatment.”

The North End is one of the most restaurant-dense neighborhoods in the country—so it makes pefect sense that its biggest annual attraction are the feasts. These are street fairs celebrating Italian American culture with food carts, carnival games, live music and parades, held each weekend in August to honor various saints. The 2024 season closes out Labor Day weekend with the San Gennaro Feast, taking the Paul Revere Mall on Hanover Street from Friday, Aug. 30–Sunday, Sept. 1. The patron saint of Naples, Italy, is celebrated by the Saint Gennaro Foundation of Boston, founded by North End restaurateurs Frank DePasquale, Nick Varano, Angelo Vigliotta and Pasquale Trotta, along with the North End-founded Pastene brands. The festivities feature more than two dozen booths by local restaurants, free live music and DJs, celebrity emcees and more. The San Gennaro Feast winds down on Sunday with a procession of the  saint followed by an outdoor mass (these are Catholic festivals, after all). 

San Gennaro Feast Schedule

Friday, August 30

5pm- The Feast Opens to the public

6pm- Hot 96.9 Morning Show Host Melissa Eannuzzo welcomes guests

6:15pm- Vinyl Groove performs

8pm- Italian Connection performs

11pm- Feast closes for the night

Saturday, August 31

12pm- The Feast Opens to the Public

6pm- Kiss 108 Personality Gianna Gravalese introduces performers

6:15–7:15pm- Virgil the DJ

7:30–8:15pm- Canadian singer and disco great France Joli

8:30–10pm- The Midtown Men (Jersey Boys original cast)

11pm- The Feast closes for the night

Sunday, September 1

12pm- Outdoor Mass performed by the priests of Saint Stephens

1pm- Procession of San Gennaro

6pm- Kiss 108 Personality Gianna Gravelese presents Flutie Foundation with check

6:30–7:30pm- Virgil the DJ

8–9:30pm- Sal The Voice from America’s Got Talent

11pm- The feast concludes

The Carolina Panthers are signing former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Deon Cain to their practice squad. This comes days after Cain was released from the Buffalo Bills, allowing him to find a new home. A standout in the UFL over the last two seasons with the Birmingham Stallions, Cain hopes to find a new, permanent spot in the NFL, and the Panthers are giving him that chance.

The 28-year-old wide receiver has spent his career with multiple teams. Cain, the sixth-round pick of the Indianapolis Colts in the 2018 NFL Draft, spent the first two seasons with the Colts. However, once the Colts let him go in 2019, the Steelers jumped all over the opportunity to add him to the practice squad and eventually, the active roster. Cain spent all of 2019 and 2020 with the Steelers before heading to the Philadelphia Eagles for two years from 2021 to 2022, for most of which he was on their practice squad.

Since then, Cain has had those two stints in the UFL and previous USFL, earning opportunities with the Eagles again, Bills, and now the Panthers. The Panthers are somewhat of a homecoming for the Clemson product, who will go back south to try and prove that he belongs in the NFL.

While in the USFL with the Stallions, he was named the USFL Championship MVP in 2023. He has racked up just nine receptions for 124 yards in his NFL career, but has stuck around as a big play threat with great body control.