Copperheads make their homes on rocky hillsides and along the edges of forests. They also spend time among trees and in brush along prairie streams. Copperheads are often found near abandoned farm buildings. Copperheads will vibrate their tail when alarmed. There is no record of a humandeath caused by a copperhead bite in this state, but medical treatment for such bites is necessary.
Copperheads eat mice, lizards, frogs and sometimes small snakes.
The Osage copperhead is found over the northern twothirds of the state and is replaced by the southern copperheada subspeciesin the southern third of the state. When alarmed, it opens its mouth widely, showing the cottonwhite lining. General body color is black with little or no pattern, or dark brown with darker crossbands on the back. The belly is dark brown or black. Young cottonmouths are superficially patterned like a copperhead and usually have a yellowishgreen tail.