Copperheads eat a variety of prey, typically feeding on lizards and frogs. The species is well known for eating smaller snakes and is cannibalistic. Lowland Copperheads are also known to eat grasshoppers, and occasionally, carrion. This species is an active, alert hunter that is very shy with humans. With the increase in housing encroaching on the Copperheads preferred habitat, contact with people is more likely to occur.
Copperheads are generally inoffensive and retiring, preferring to retreat when disturbed.
However, like most snakes they will defend themselves if they feel they are unable to escape. Lowland Copperheads overwinter in animal burrows close to water. In late summer and early autumn male Copperheads become sexually active and move about in search of females. While looking for mates male snakes do not eat and are known to fight with one another, which has lead to male Lowland Copperheads growing to a larger size than females. They mate in late summer and sperm is stored in the oviducts over winter.