Copperhead spotting in Central Virginia: What you need to know this snake season

RICHMOND, Va. -- As the weather warms and residents flock to trails and parks, so do Central Virginia's most common venomous snakes -- copperheads. Sightings and interactions are on the rise, prompting warnings from a local wildlife expert.

Rich Perry, owner of Virginia Wildlife Management and Control, said his team receives calls and texts all day, every day.

"We probably see more snakes and have more snake activity than pretty much anybody in the state," Perry explained. "In the course of a day, we can do anywhere from a dozen to two dozen snakes every single day, in people's houses, in people's cars, in people's garages, crawl spaces, sheds, attics -- you name it, everywhere."

Of those calls, half a dozen are reports of copperheads, Perry explained.

On Wednesday, Perry's team responded to a call in Mosley, where a three-foot-long copperhead was found nestled in a woman's yard.

(Madison Moore, 8News)

(Madison Moore, 8News)

"A lady was outside walking her dog, and she noticed that her dog was showing interest in one of the bushes by her house," Perry recounted. "The dog literally stepped right over the snake and almost stepped right on it."

While most copperheads average about a foot, finding one three feet or larger is rare, making this particular sighting notable.

Copperheads tend to be difficult to spot due to their excellent camouflage -- tan bodies with distinctive brown, hourglass-shaped patterns (often described as "Hershey's Kisses").

This challenge led Perry to establish a 24-hour snake identification hotline.

"It was because people literally all over the state were killing snakes left and right, because every snake that they saw, they thought was a copperhead," he explained.

Perry said if you encounter any snake with a pattern, treat it as if it's a copperhead and send a picture to his team for identification.

Despite their venomous nature, copperheads are generally "very shy" and "very docile" snakes.

"You don't want to be picking them up. You don't want to be messing with them," Perry said. "But they're not going to attack you. They're not just if you're walking by or walking your dog or anything. They're not just going to come out and strike at you, hurt you."

While Virginia is home to three venomous snake species – the copperhead, timber rattler and cottonmouth (aka water moccasin) – Perry emphasized that copperheads are the primary concern in Central Virginia.

One of the most effective ways to deter snakes is through diligent yard maintenance.

"Brush, leaves, logs, rocks, all of that stuff is nothing but a recipe for disaster," Perry warned. "It's nothing but a huge welcome mat for snakes."

He strongly advises homeowners to remove brush piles as quickly as possible. Log piles, especially for outdoor fire pits, are another high-risk area. Always check carefully and be mindful of where you place your hands when handling wood.

Even a short warm spell, lasting just three or four days, can trigger snake activity.

"Don't panic. Nobody's going to die from a copperhead bite. You're going to wish you were dead. It's going to be painful," Perry said. "Don't stop living and don't stop enjoying your life because of these snakes."

If you find a snake and need more information, you can call the 24-hour snake identification hotline number at 804-617-7086.