Information courtesy of /wiki/Agkistrodon_contortrix_laticinctus, venombyte. It is an ambush predator, eating lizards, frogs, and rodents, with juveniles having a taste for various kinds of insects, such as cicadas. It typically avoids regions with a significant population of humans. Secretive and nocturnal, it prefers lightly wooded habitats, typically with a good amount of ground debris for cover, not far from a permanent water source. The Broad-Banded Copperhead is born with the ability to bite and inject venom, and is fully capable of inflicting a venomous bite from birth.

It will often vibrate its tail when disturbed as well. The milk snakes coloration is gray to tan, with rows of dark red or brown. Juvenile Cottonmouths have a broad, dark band through the eye and body color is mostly dark brown. When the Broad-Banded Copperhead is disturbed or feels threatened, it will often coil up its body, and raise its head at a 45-degree angle from the ground in a defensive posture. Copperheads are frequently misidentified as nonvenomous milk snakes because. Milksnakes have wide dark blotches at center of back. Any bite from a venomous snake should be considered serious and medical treatment sought. Copperhead venom is not considered to be life-threatening to an otherwise healthy adult, but it can cause localized swelling, necrosis, and severe pain. The name Ribbon snakes refers to a group of snakes in the genus Thamnophis. They are commonly called garden snakes and they tend to feel right at home in residential areas around the state. West Virginia residents are most likely aware of their two Garter Snakes. They average approximately 2 – 3 feet in length, considered to be one of the smaller copperheads. Please press the green Snakes button for more snake pictures and identification help. The actual color varies, by locality, from a red-brown, to a gray-brown. This form is typically a light tan in color, with darker brown, wide cross bands – which gives it its common name. They are found in the southern United States, from Kansas, through Oklahoma and throughout central Texas. They are a venomous pit viper subspecies. The Broad-banded copperhead is also known as copperhead moccasin, copperhead snake, dry-land moccasin, highland moccasin, moccasin, rattlesnake pilot, red eye, Texas copperhead, and thunder snake. Broad-Banded Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix laticinctus)

Brown milksnake copperhead