Watch How Mind-Bogglingly Fast a Copperhead Snake Strike is in Slow Motion

Written by Sharon Parry
Updated: April 20, 2023
© Joe McDonald/Shutterstock.com
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Continue Reading To See This Amazing Video

Key Points:

  • About 3,000 people are bitten by copperheads, but they are rarely fatal.
  • Copperheads have explosive striking speeds, which they use to ambush their prey.

The copperhead snake is responsible for about 3,000 snake bites in the United States per year. They can be found throughout most of the eastern seaboard, as far north as Massachusetts and west to Texas. It is most common in deciduous forests and near swampy areas. They are not aggressive, but very common. These snakes are highly defensive and if they bite, bite repeatedly. Most of us would prefer to keep away from them.  But when this beautiful copperhead was found in the middle of a road it resulted in an incredible filming opportunity, and we get to share it!

Snakes in Mississippi - Southern Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix)
Copperheads have excellent natural camouflage.

©Jay Ondreicka/Shutterstock.com

The lovely creature was found out in the open on a sandy road. They are a highly adaptable species that can live in various habitats, including near human settlements and even construction sites! They are found in many areas of the U.S. including Massachusetts, Illinois, Texas, and Ohio. This is a young southern copperhead, and the scientific name is Agkistrodon contortrix. They are found in eastern Texas and eastern Oklahoma but also in Nebraska, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York.

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In this footage, we are treated to a close-up view of the copper-colored head and pink body with dark hourglass bands. The tip of the tail is yellow and is used as a lure to attract lizards, frogs, and other prey. These are not huge snakes, with the largest ones around four feet long. We know that this is a young animal because of its small size.

Copperheads have been described as “ambush predators”. This means that they sit and wait – until some unsuspecting prey stumbles past, then strike with amazing speed. They feed on insects, other invertebrates, small mammals, and birds. Once they have plunged their fangs into the prey and released their venom, they either hold the victim in their mouth as it dies, or the copperhead follows it and waits for it to become immobile. Then, they eat their meal whole by fully opening their hinged jaws. These guys only need to eat around once a month!

Broad Band Copperhead Snake
Copperheads are “ambush predators,” meaning they lie in wait to attack unsuspecting prey.

©Dennis W Donohue/Shutterstock.com

The strike is an integral part of how they hunt, and they are very good at it! The copperhead snake in this video strikes a total of 12 times, so we get to view it in detail. It starts from an elongated position and the strike is so powerful that the whole body is lifted off the ground. It lands in the classic viper-coiled position from which it launches the other strikes. They are very impressive in real time but once the footage is slowed down you can really appreciate the power and the accuracy of the strike. The head is extended forward with explosive speed, it is no wonder that it is such an efficient hunting mechanism.

Having provided us with such a magnificent display of its hunting prowess, this particular copperhead is gently moved from the road and to a safe location amongst the trees where it can get on with its day!

Are Copperheads Usually This Touchy?

Copperheads are ambush predators and generally lie in wait and then strike fast. While they are more likely to bite than other snakes, they will generally leave you alone if you leave them alone. They don’t usually continue to bite unless they feel threatened. The maker of this video was provoking the snake so that he could film the strike. Definitely not something you would want to do!

Don’t blink – these copperheads strike with extreme speed!

Common Ambush Predators

timber rattlesnake
Most snakes are ambush predators, including venomous rattlesnakes.

©Kristian Bell/Shutterstock.com

Ambush predators use stealth, luring techniques, camouflage, mimicry, and other strategies to capture or attack prey. They typically remain concealed and patiently wait for the opportune moment to strike. While we’ve shown that copperhead snakes are very aggressive ambush predators, other animals make the cut as well. Here’s a list of some other ambush predators native to the United States:

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The Featured Image

Southern Copperhead, Agkistrodon contortrix, native to South Carolina, controlled situation
© Joe McDonald/Shutterstock.com

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About the Author

Sharon has a Ph.D. in Public Health but has spent the last decade researching and writing about all things connected with animal health and well being. As a life-long animal lover, she now shares her family home with three rabbits, a Syrian hamster, and a very energetic Cocker Spaniel but in the past she has also been a Mom to Guinea Pigs and several cats!She has a passion for researching accurate and credible information about pets and reviewing products that make pet owners' lives a bit easier. When she isn't checking out new pet products she's trekking around the Welsh mountains and beaches with her dog - although she lets her husband and her three grown up daughters tag along sometimes if they are lucky!

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