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I run several times a week on our local hike / bike trail - part of which is wooded. During my run today, a couple on bikes warned me about 2 copperheads they just passed on the trail.
I carry OC for dogs and coyotes and was wondering if it would have any effect on snakes? If i see a snake in time, i give it plenty of room, but .....

dlcrouch wrote:I run several times a week on our local hike / bike trail - part of which is wooded. During my run today, a couple on bikes warned me about 2 copperheads they just passed on the trail.
I carry OC for dogs and coyotes and was wondering if it would have any effect on snakes? If i see a snake in time, i give it plenty of room, but .....

Sankes are slow movers or static when not disturbed. Aim, take your time, breath hold, pull the the trigger slowly.

Beiruty wrote:Sankes are slow movers or static when not disturbed. Aim, take your time, breath hold, pull the the trigger slowly.

Or avoid them.

dlcrouch wrote:I run several times a week on our local hike / bike trail - part of which is wooded. During my run today, a couple on bikes warned me about 2 copperheads they just passed on the trail.
I carry OC for dogs and coyotes and was wondering if it would have any effect on snakes? If i see a snake in time, i give it plenty of room, but .....

I don't know of any tests of the concept, but I sure wouldn't count on it.

I particularly wouldn't try using it on a copperhead in view of the fact that most folks bitten by this particular species achieve that status by messing with the snake. They're notorious for having no sense of humor at all and a mean streak a mile wide. They attack on opportunity and without warning.

One of my neighbors confirmed that first hand when he stepped out on his patio one morning and was immediately bitten as soon as his foot hit the deck. He's OK now after 3 days in the hospital, $13,000 in medical bills, and 2 months recovering from the aftereffects.

For those interested in detailed info on these snakes, it can be found here. The color pictures of the effects of the venom are instructive.

You won't find me using OC on any copperheads I come across. My defensive strategy for these encounters is rapidly increasing distance and lots of it.

If you decide to try the OC, be sure to let us know how it works out.

Beiruty wrote:

dlcrouch wrote:I run several times a week on our local hike / bike trail - part of which is wooded. During my run today, a couple on bikes warned me about 2 copperheads they just passed on the trail.
I carry OC for dogs and coyotes and was wondering if it would have any effect on snakes? If i see a snake in time, i give it plenty of room, but .....

Sankes are slow movers or static when not disturbed. Aim, take your time, breath hold, pull the the trigger slowly.

What would be the legalities involved with killing a copperhead with a handgun on a public trail?

The best "defense" is to make plenty of noise as you go through the wooded areas -
that gives the snakes ample warning. Almost ALL snakes will retreat and hide if
possible rather than bite (a defensive mechanism against humans or other animals
that aren't prey).
Avoid putting your hands and feet under logs, and be careful when stepping over
them.

My understanding of copperheads is that they are actually more docile than most
species and usually bite only when startled or messed with.

Snakes also have a transparent scale over their eyes (no eyelids) so I would not
believe that OC would help at all against any species of snake.

Having been bitten by a Copperhead when I was 11, I hate the little varmints. When/If I see one, it's going to get 230grs. of payback right through it's cute little head.

Snake
Copperhead
Bang

Just the way I roll.

In my life I have encountered hundreds of Rattlesnakes, Copperheads and a few Cottonmouths. Some will try to get away from you if you catch them out in the open, as on a road or on concrete, etc., but once they think they are hidden from view few will try to move away but rather will willingly hold their ground. While Copperheads poison is normally not as toxic to humans as Rattlesnakes they are in general by far more irritable. To me, they have nasty temperaments and will not hesitate to strike multiple times if given the opportunity. I really can't speak as to what they do if not messed with as it is my belief that a dead pit viper is a good pit viper. My theory is that the one I see and kill today will not bite me when I'm not looking tomorrow so if I see one and I figure there's a better chance of me killing him than him biting me...he's gonna die one way or another.

I've never carried OC so I've never tried using it on them but I will say they hate gasoline. On a few occasions, like if I see one around a dwelling or my shop and they've gone behind something I can't readily move I have a hand sprayer with gasoline in it that I'll spray under or behind where they have crawled and they can't stand it very long. Most have come right out in the open giving me my opportunity with my gun, a rock, stick, pipe, or whatever I can get my hands on the quickest...And another snake bites the dust.

Most of the snakes I've asked are opposed to open carry.

mctowalot wrote:Most of the snakes I've asked are opposed to open carry.

But if a snake's gonna carry, it would be sorta hard to conceal. OC is their only reasonable option, I suppose.

I can't imagine ever needing OC for a snake, nor do I know if it would have any effect.

If you can sit there and look at the critter long enough to spray it, than it's no threat to you, so why spray it in the first place?

Snakes want absolutely nothing to do with us humans, and the overwhelming majority of bites occur because we either step on them, ALMOST step on them, or get our hands too close to them intentionally or otherwise. I'd bite too if I were them in those cases.

IMO, when you absolutely have to deal with a poisonous snake, a simple 6 foot stick is all you need to convince it to move along. While they may get irritated about being disturbed while they are sunbathing, a poke or two will get them moving, and than you both can go about your business.

Voice of reason Texas Dan