Mississippi
Watch your step! These 6 Mississippi areas can be copperhead hotspots
Snake facts: 10 surprising, scary and very cool things to know
Why do snakes flick their tongues? Can snakes smell fear? This video reveals 10 amazing facts about rattlesnakes, flying snakes and other species.
The Republic
Spring is coming. That means a higher risk of copperhead sightings as more people head to trails, parks and yards where these venomous snakes hide.
World Atlas has flagged six hotspots across the state where copperheads are most likely to be found.
But they can be almost anywhere in the state. People should be aware when outdoors and especially cautious when clearing debris from winter storms that have downed lots of trees and limbs.
Copperheads are responsible for the most bites in the U.S. (But rattlesnakes cause the most deaths.) The species isn’t aggressive and usually tries to avoid people, but they will bite if threatened or handled.
Mississippi is home to more than 50 snake species, but only a handful are venomous. Being bitten might be scary, but it is rarely deadly, according to Live Science.
Check out the places where you should keep your eyes peeled for snakes. Watch your step!
Where do copperheads live in Mississippi?
According to the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, the Southern Copperhead is one of the most common snakes across the Magnolia State. They’re everywhere except the Gulf Coast and barrier islands.
Keep your eyes peeled in hardwood forests, pine country, old fields, bottomlands and even subdivisions.
The state wildlife department notes they’re often seen crossing roads at night and get surprised when people uncover them in wood piles.
They usually stay still or slither away quickly when people approach.
Most bites happen when a copperhead is stepped on, touched accidentally or when someone tries to kill it.
What do copperhead snakes look like?
They’re usually two to three feet long with a base color that’s light gray or beige, according to the MDWFP.
Juveniles have a bright yellow tail, and sometimes adults have a slight pink or orange tint. Darker, hourglass-shaped bands are sometimes compared to the shape of a Hershey’s Kiss, especially from the side view.
Copperheads are pit vipers, meaning they have a heat-sensing pit between their eyes and their nostrils.
Their eyes have vertical slits, like a cat.
What do copperheads eat?
Copperheads eat small birds, frogs, lizards, rodents and bugs. MDWFP says they especially like cicadas. So they’re more likely to be where food is easy to find.
“They do best where ground cover is thick and moisture is nearby, such as in accumulated leaf litter, downed limbs, brush piles, and shaded edges that support common prey, like frogs, lizards, and rodents.” World Atlas wrote.
What are copperhead hotspots in Mississippi?
World Atlas highlighted several parks and wildlife areas where copperheads could thrive, “especially along creeks, wooded slopes, and mixed hardwood bottoms.”
They advise caution when stepping off regular trails and extra alertness at night, near water, and in brushy areas.
Tishomingo State Park
The park has large rock formations and trails through the woods. Leaf litter provides ground coverage. Areas along the creek are good areas for copperheads to hunt for prey while camouflaged.
Clark Creek Natural Area
“The park itself warns visitors they may see venomous snakes, which makes sense, given the area’s shaded ravines, wet rock, and dense woodland corridors that stay humid even when nearby uplands dry out,” World Atlas wrote. The park’s isolation makes it a great spot for wildlife to flourish.
De Soto National Forest
The De Soto National Forest has a variety of terrains where copperheads can hide and hunt, including sandy areas, swamps and hardwood forests. World Atlas warns hikers to be extra careful ” around sunny sandbars and the leaf line where the lowlands transition to higher ground.”
Holly Springs National Forest
The Holly Springs National Forest is another wide area with different environments where the snakes could be heavy on the ground. The lakes and campsites can be attractive to the rodents and amphibians that the snakes like to eat, and the forested areas provide cover that could make a run-in easier.
Tombigbee National Forest and the Davis Lake area
Pine and hardwood forests are near the lake, so most of the action is likely to be right against the water. Near Davis Lake, World Atlas says to be cautious near “shaded tent pads, downed limbs near the bank, and the leaf line beside roads and trails.”
Homochitto National Forest
Homochitto National Forest has creeks and drainage patterns that can make damp places where copperheads hide in what’s normally a dry area. Be aware near “streamside leaf mats, root tangles, and brushy edges.”
What should you do if you see a copperhead?
Encountering a copperhead doesn’t have to ruin your hike. Most copperheads are shy and will avoid humans, but it’s smart to know what to do.
- Keep your distance
- Back away slowly
- Watch your step
- Protect pets and kids
- Don’t try to kill it: copperheads are protected in some areas, and most bites happen when people handle snakes.
- Seek help if bitten: Even though bites are rarely fatal, get medical attention immediately.
How many venomous snakes live in Mississippi? See photos
The Mississippi Poison Control Center via the University of Mississippi Medical Center lists six venomous snakes and other animals, like spiders, stingrays and jellyfish.
The list of dangerous snakes includes:
- Copperheads
- Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnakes
- Water Moccasins (also called Cottonmouths)
- Timber Rattlesnakes
- Pygmy Rattlesnakes
- Coral Snakes
Snake Snap lists eight snakes with venom. The extras come from listings of more variations of some species: Western Cottonmouth and Northern Cottonmouth, along with the Dusky and Western variations of Pygmy Rattlesnakes.
How rare are snake bites?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 7,000 to 8,000 people get a venomous snake bite in the U.S. each year.
Only about five people a year die, but some bites can cause long-term injuries. Up to 44% of people bitten by rattlesnakes have other health problems, like losing a finger.
How many people in Mississippi die from snake bites?
World Population Review estimates about 236 venomous snake bites per year in Mississippi, or about 11 incidents for every 100,000 people.
Deadly bites are extremely rare. The site hasn’t tracked any in Mississippi since 1970.
One of, if not the only, death in decades came in 2000 when the Brookhaven Daily Leader reported the death of Tommy Tanksley, 80, of Monticello.
According to the article, Tanksley was bitten by a rattlesnake and while driving to a hospital, he was involved in an accident. It was unclear if the bite caused his death or contributed to it.
Contributing: Nina Tran
Bonnie Bolden is the Deep South Connect reporter for Mississippi with USA TODAY Network. Email her at bbolden@gannett.com.
Jennifer Lindahl is a Breaking and Trending Reporter in Alabama for USA TODAY’s Deep South Connect Team. Connect with her on X @jenn_lindahl and email at jlindahl@usatodayco.com.