Ivy Two poisonous snakes are known to occur on the Allegheny National Forest although neither is common. These include the northern copperhead and the timber rattlesnake. Anyone who is bitten by a poisonous snake should seek prompt medical attention. They favor wooded hillside particularly rocky outcrops on south facing slopes where they can bask in the sun on warm days. Rock piles, rotting logs, and wood piles may harbor copperheads.
Copperheads are copper to hazel-brown in color with darker hourglass shaped bands.
They are stout-bodied and reach a length of 24 to 36 inches. Copperheads are somtimes confused with the non-poisonous milk snake which has lighter colored cross bands. There are two color phases, black and the less common yellow phase. The black phase has a heavy stipling or flecking of dark browns or blacks. Timber rattlesnakes can reach 36 to 54 inches in length.