R. K. Cook's video: Southern Copperhead Snake Charmed Out Of Lair

HANK WILDING'S JOURNAL: Normally, I don't hold with pestering wild critters in any way, shape or form. Anyone who does this for a cheap laugh or to attract attention to themselves is NOT a nature lover. But in order to get a better look at this Southern Copperhead minding his own business in his stony lair, I had to break my own cardinal rule. I was exploring a slope along Little Cotton Indian Creek in Henry County, Georgia, one May 2016 evening when I spied this handsome Southern Copperhead slithering into a cranny amongst the riprap; the slope was rebuilt with this material (my hillbilly daddy called it "riffraff") after a major sewer project some years back. This southern-facing rocky bank is home to an abundance of serpents, but this was the first time I'd ever encountered a copperhead there. I was thrilled, but Mr. Copperhead didn't want to come out to play. I thought for sure he'd want to escape the ants irritating the hell out of him, but he stayed put. It was up to me to "charm" the old fellow out of hiding with a piece of bamboo, which he struck at only once, and then only half-heartedly. (In my experience, Southern Copperheads are not inordinately aggressive. In fact, I'd say they're rather passive.) Finally, he'd had enough of my motivatin' and shot out. He was fast, and yes, a little scary — that's why old Hank's pictures of his departure ain't up to snuff. Even though a Southern Copperhead bite is painful but rarely fatal to humans, I gave him a wide berth as he disappeared into the undergrowth. This is a good opportunity to observe a Southern Copperhead up close. Note, for instance, the distinctive hourglass pattern on the snake's body, the golden eyes with elliptical, cat-like pupils and the pits between eye and nostril — hence the term "pit viper," a class of snakes that also includes water moccasins and rattlesnakes; these pits, on each side of the head, are heat sensitive and aid in detecting potential prey. Look fast and you'll also notice Mr. Copperhead's deeply forked tongue. He must be on Team Trump. I apologize, Mr. Copperhead, you don't deserve that comparison. Over the years, I've caught several baby Southern Copperheads in my cat room (what, don't your cats have their own room?) and I have to wonder how they got there. Well, "they" say you're never more than ten feet from a snake at any given time. Guess there's a Mama Copperhead or two in the woodwork. Like the music? I thought it was cool and pretty appropriate. Here's the complete info: East of Tunesia by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100246 Artist: http://incompetech.com/