Copperhead or Chicken Snake? This Is the Easiest Way to Tell the Difference

The well-known copperhead is often mistaken for lesser-known species of nonvenomous snakes. One common snake that is sometimes confused with the venomous copperhead is the similar-looking chicken snake (also known as the eastern rat snake). According to the Virginia Herpetological Society, juvenile eastern rat snakes are the species most commonly mistaken for copperheads. Let’s take a look at the similarities and differences between copperheads and chicken snakes and how to tell them apart.

Habitat and Range

Copperhead snakes (Agkistrodon contortrix) are found in much of the eastern half of the U.S. They live as far south as the Florida panhandle and as far north as Massachusetts. Their range extends as far west as Kansas and Nebraska. Copperheads live in a wide range of habitats, including forests, hillsides, and alongside streams or rivers. In suburban areas, they may be found living in piles of mulch or wood.

Chicken snakes (Pantherophis alleghaniensis), also known as eastern rat snakes or gray rat snakes, are found in much of the same range as copperhead snakes, although not as far north or west. Their habitats include pine forests, swamps, prairies, and fields. Like copperheads, chicken snakes may make their homes around suburban areas.

Size and Appearance

Copperheads grow to be about two to three feet in length, although the longest on record was measured at 53 inches. Chicken snakes are much longer on average, measuring around 36 to 72 inches. Copperheads are pit vipers with broad, triangular heads. They have dark reddish to brown hourglass-shaped patterns along their body. They are the only species of snake with these distinct, hourglass-shaped markings. As babies and juveniles, copperheads have bright yellow tails, which fade as the snake grows. The yellow color is used as a lure to help the juvenile snake catch lizards and frogs.

Juvenile chicken snakes also have blotches across their body that may appear similar to a copperhead. As adults, their blotches fade and they can vary in color. Chicken snakes may be gray, yellow, orange, or tan with long stripes along their bodies.

Predators and Prey

Copperheads are pit vipers. These venomous snakes have specialized organs on their head that can sense heat, helping them to locate their prey. Copperheads will ambush their prey, biting down and releasing their venom. If the prey is small, they’ll hold onto it and swallow it whole. If the prey is larger, they let it get away, but will track it down after it dies from the venom poisoning. Copperheads have a varied diet, although they are helpful at keeping rodent populations at bay. Copperheads may eat mice, frogs, lizards, insects, birds, and other small snakes. They have to watch out for various predators, including birds of prey, coyotes, bobcats, foxes, and other large snakes such as kingsnakes.

Chicken snakes have a diet similar to copperheads, eating frogs, lizards, rodents, and birds. Unlike copperheads, they don’t kill their victims with venom. Instead, chicken snakes, like all rat snakes, are constrictors. They coil around larger prey, suffocating it. They may swallow smaller prey whole. Like copperheads, chicken snakes need to be wary of birds of prey and other snakes. Because of their large size, chicken snakes are most vulnerable when they are juveniles and not yet fully grown.

Interactions With Humans

A study showed that copperhead bites accounted for 40% of all snake bites in the U.S. Although venomous, the venom of a copperhead is not strong enough to kill a person. However, a bite is painful and requires immediate medical treatment. Some patients may require antivenom. Though they account for nearly half of all snake bites in the U.S., copperheads are not aggressive and will attempt to camouflage themselves to escape detection. They only bite when they feel cornered or threatened, with no way out. Unless you mistakenly step on a copperhead or try to handle it, these snakes do all they can to avoid contact with people.

Chicken snakes will also try to avoid contact with humans and only bite as a last resort when threatened. A chicken snake will either remain motionless or flee when it spots a human. If cornered, they defend themselves by striking and vibrating their tail. A chicken snake bite may be painful and require medical treatment, but they aren’t venomous. According to the University of Florida Museum, virtually all chicken snake bites occur when the snake is bothered or handled.