Washita and Other Weird Tales

My e-book, Washita and Other Weird Tales. written in 2023-2024 and published in 2024, has been added to this blog. You can find the main pa...

Saturday, February 21, 2026

Eastern Copperhead

Eastern Copperhead
Eastern Copperhead

The image shows a venomous eastern copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix). I think it appears flat and wider because it's in a defensive position. Of all poisonous snakes in Texas, these command more of my respect because of how they behave. It can sit in plain view in the leaves, and you'll never know it's there until you step on it or accidentally pick it up if you're doing yard work. I almost picked one up one time. It sits still, possibly, because it's an ambush predator. Wikipedia states that "Copperhead bites account for half of the treated snake bites in the United States."

Image Source: Meta via Texas Snake Identification.