They are characterized by a pit between and slightly below the eye and nostril, long movable fangs, a vertically elliptical pupil, undivided scales on the underside of the tail, and a large triangular-shaped head. Nonpoisonous snakes have round pupils, divided scales on the underside of the tail, no pits and no long fangs. A copperhead has a rusty patch on the top of its triangular-shaped head. Copperhead markings look like a string of rust-colored hourglasses. Incidentally, the hourglass shape is a warning sign elsewhere in nature, the black widow spider and the brown recluse spider come to mind.
Young copperheads have lemon-yellow tails.
Small animals, like small dogs, may receive a fatal bite from a copperhead. The poison causes local tissue destruction and secondary infection often sets in. If you or your pet are bitten by any snake that you suspect is poisonous, get medial attention immediately. For the most part, if you let snakes alone, they'll leave you alone. One of our most beneficial snakes is the rat snake.