Eastern copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix)

Yes. The eastern copperhead is a pit viper (family Viperidae), like every rattlesnake, copperhead and cottonmouth in the U.S. Its bite needs emergency care: call 911 and keep the bitten limb still. Antivenom is given in hospital.

Species commonly confused with copperheads and recorded in the same states: eastern hog-nosed snake (recorded in all 27 of its states), eastern milksnake (recorded in all 27 of its states), northern water snake (recorded in all 27 of its states), eastern rat snake (recorded in 22 of its 27 states) and plain-bellied watersnake (recorded in 18 of its 27 states).

Records are spread over 27 states; the top three, North Carolina, Texas and Virginia, hold 53% of them.

Across the U.S., observation records of the eastern copperhead run mostly April through October, peaking in May with 19% of them. Almost none are from December to February.

Observation records run through most of the year in Louisiana. Among states whose main season falls within one calendar year, it starts earliest in March (Texas) and latest in May (New York and Virginia). The most common peak month is April, shared by Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana and Texas.

North Carolina holds 1,633 licensed records, the 2nd most recorded of 39 snakes listed there. Its observation records in North Carolina run mostly April through October, peaking in July; most licensed records come from Sampson County, Wake County and Moore County. Next come Orange County (71) and Bladen County (65).

Texas holds 1,188 licensed records, the 11th most recorded of 86 snakes listed there. Its observation records in Texas run mostly March through October, peaking in April; most licensed records come from Brazos County, Terrell County and Wharton County. Next come Dallas County (50) and Harris County (48).

Virginia holds 641 licensed records, the 6th most recorded of 30 snakes listed there. Its observation records in Virginia run mostly May through September, peaking in July; most licensed records come from Fairfax County, Bedford County and Henrico County. Next come Spotsylvania County (26) and Chesterfield County (24).

Kansas holds 615 licensed records, the 7th most recorded of 44 snakes listed there. Its observation records in Kansas run mostly April through September, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Douglas County, Marshall County and Linn County. Next come Miami County (53) and Franklin County (44).

Oklahoma holds 315 licensed records, the 15th most recorded of 50 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in Oklahoma come from Atoka County, McCurtain County and LeFlore County. Next come Cherokee County (25) and Marshall County (21).

Pennsylvania holds 261 licensed records, the 12th most recorded of 20 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in Pennsylvania come from Allegheny County, Westmoreland County and Montgomery County. Next come Wyoming County (14) and Fayette County (11).

New York holds 238 licensed records, the 7th most recorded of 17 snakes listed there. Its observation records in New York run mostly May through September, peaking in August; most licensed records come from Ulster County, Orange County and Rockland County. Next come Dutchess County (2) and Putnam County (1).

Alabama holds 190 licensed records, the 10th most recorded of 44 snakes listed there. Its observation records in Alabama run mostly April through September, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Lee County, Jefferson County and Chambers County. Next come Covington County (9) and Escambia County (8).

South Carolina holds 179 licensed records, the joint 5th most recorded of 40 snakes listed there. Its observation records in South Carolina run mostly April through October, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Charleston County, Berkeley County and Jasper County. Next come Oconee County (15) and Greenville County (14).

Maryland holds 144 licensed records, the 9th most recorded of 20 snakes listed there. Its observation records in Maryland run mostly April through September, peaking in June; most licensed records come from Montgomery County, Prince George's County and Baltimore County. Next come Calvert County (11) and Cecil County (10).

Louisiana holds 139 licensed records, the 11th most recorded of 41 snakes listed there. Its observation records in Louisiana run through most of the year, peaking in April; most licensed records come from Ouachita Parish, East Baton Rouge Parish and Lafayette Parish. Next come Natchitoches Parish (10) and Vernon Parish (10).

Tennessee holds 139 licensed records, the 5th most recorded of 32 snakes listed there. Its observation records in Tennessee run mostly April through September, peaking in July; most licensed records come from Stewart County, Blount County and Davidson County. Next come Scott County (10) and Shelby County (7).

Georgia holds 131 licensed records, the 11th most recorded of 44 snakes listed there. Its observation records in Georgia run mostly April through October, peaking in April; most licensed records come from Chatham County, Baker County and DeKalb County. Next come Clarke County (6) and Union County (5).

Arkansas holds 130 licensed records, the joint 6th most recorded of 36 snakes listed there. Its observation records in Arkansas run mostly April through September, peaking in April; most licensed records come from Columbia County, Polk County and Washington County. Next come Pulaski County (6) and Greene County (5).

Kentucky holds 102 licensed records, the joint 4th most recorded of 24 snakes listed there. Its observation records in Kentucky run mostly April through September, peaking in June; most licensed records come from Madison County, Trigg County and Lyon County. Next come Wolfe County (6) and Menifee County (6).

Ohio holds 94 licensed records, the 11th most recorded of 25 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in Ohio come from Scioto County, Columbiana County and Adams County. Next come Hocking County (9) and Fairfield County (8).

Connecticut holds 82 licensed records, the 5th most recorded of 14 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in Connecticut come from New Haven County, Fairfield County and Hartford County. Next come Middlesex County (3).

Missouri holds 65 licensed records, the 8th most recorded of 36 snakes listed there. Its observation records in Missouri run mostly April through September, peaking in September; most licensed records come from Jefferson County, Boone County and Wayne County. Next come Franklin County (4) and Shannon County (3).

Indiana holds 62 licensed records, the 11th most recorded of 27 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in Indiana come from Morgan County, Monroe County and Harrison County. Next come Brown County (4) and Clark County (2).

Nebraska holds 53 licensed records, the 12th most recorded of 31 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in Nebraska come from Gage County, Pawnee County and Richardson County.

Illinois holds 49 licensed records, the 18th most recorded of 33 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in Illinois come from Union County, Jersey County and Jackson County. Next come Monroe County (4) and Randolph County (3).

West Virginia holds 42 licensed records, the 13th most recorded of 18 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in West Virginia come from Berkeley County, Morgan County and Cabell County. Next come Fayette County (3) and Mineral County (3).

Mississippi holds 37 licensed records, the 15th most recorded of 38 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in Mississippi come from Panola County, Forrest County and Lafayette County. Next come Oktibbeha County (3) and Perry County (3).

The eastern copperhead record leans on older material: only 27% of dated U.S. records come from 2017–2026, and the median record is from 1988. The oldest dated record is from 1860; the busiest year was 2024, with 277 records.

Of the 308 counties where the eastern copperhead is most recorded, 156 are also top counties for the eastern racer, more than for any other snake.

Other species of the genus Agkistrodon with profiles here: Northern cottonmouth, Broad-banded copperhead and Florida cottonmouth.