Copperhead Monitoring Project
Project Lead: Jake Zadik | Organization: Brays Island Stewardship Fund
This project is designed to explore the movement patterns and habitat usage of Copperheads in the Lowcountry of South Carolina and amidsts a rural community. The aim of this project is to determine potential methods to decrease undesired human-copperhead interactions
Project Description
Copperheads are an ever common snake on Brays Island, but their medically significant venom lends them to be undesirable around residential and frequented areas. This project is designed to better understand the life history of the Copperhead in the South Carolina Lowcountry. Specifically we are focusing on movement patterns, habitat selection, as well as the effects of relocation efforts.
This is an important study that can help us better understand the dynamics between copperheads and humans. This ongoing study will help us better understand movement patterns and habitat selection on Brays Island and will lead to smarter education programs discussing these dynamics for Brays and other Lowcountry communities. Owners on Brays Island are encouraged to participate in this project by sharing copperhead encounters with the Brays Island Naturalists.
Methods
This project is designed to be a collaborative project accross Brays Island. Incedental Copperhead sightings are observations shared by Brays Owners, Employees, or outside contractors and landscapers. Active surveys are conducted at designated study sites that may be in remote locations or at select properties when permission is granted by the home owner.
Habitat and behavior notes are taken at the collection site. All collected snakes are weighed, aged and sexed. Total length and snout vent length are measured using a squeeze box for the safety of the snake and the researcher.
Dorsal photos and pattern notes are documented for future identification of each individual snake. If snakes are of an appropriate size, they are also given a PIT tag. Deceased snakes, such as snakes found dead on the road (DOR), are dissected for diet and parasite analysis.
Snakes collected in remote areas – areas deemed have a low potential of human/pet encounters – are released at the site of capture. Snakes that are captured in highly frequented areas, such as homes or amenity buildings, are relocated to remote areas.
Why this is Important?
Brays is an environtmentally minded community with a passion for living within nature. Appreciating the beauty of the wildlife and ecosystems around us is sometimes met with potentially dangerous animals. Learning reasons why copperheads are inclined to reside near areas that are frequented by people and pets, can help us come up with solutions to dissuade them from these areas and prevent undesired encounters.
Publications and Other Resources
- Copperhead Fact Sheet
- Venomous Snakes of the Lowcountry, and Commonly Misidentified Snakes
Copperhead
Adult Copperhead hiding in the leaf litter
Measuring Copperhead
Safely measuring a copperhead using a squeeze box.
Copperhead Diet
Copperhead consuming a cicada larvae. This has been found to be one of their top food items.
Copperhead Pattern
Copperheads can be individualized by their dorsal pattern and identified at a future date helping us study their movement patterns.