Copperheads spotted on base Published June 25, 2012 By Ron Durant 94th Airlift Wing Safety Office DOBBINS AIR RESERVE BASE, Ga. -- A copperhead snake was spotted recently by a runner near the trail behind the Air Force gym on base. The copperhead is one of three venomous snakes found in North Georgia and is the most commonly encountered. It's not unusual that we have at least one confirmed copperhead sighting on Dobbins every summer, but only by people in, or near, wooded areas. There have been no confirmed venomous snake bites on Dobbins, according to an employee who has worked on Dobbins since the late 1970s. If you spot a copperhead, then the best course of action is to leave the snake alone. Snake bites on a human usually only happens when someone is deliberately trying to provoke or harm a snake, and the animal acts in self defense. According to a study conducted at North Carolina State University, almost 80 percent of snake bites happen when someone is trying to capture or kill the snake. If you provoke and capture a wild animal, the animal is going to try to defend itself. A study by Dr. Whit Gibbons, University of Georgia professor, found that all the snake species tested have had the same initial response to human presence. If given the opportunity, they escape - down a hole, under a ledge, or in the case of cottonmouth snakes, into the water. "Copperhead snakes are fairly common," said Linda May, Georgia Department of Natural Resources environmental outreach coordinator. "I wouldn't say that you'll run into one every time you walk outside, but if you're outside a lot, especially if around brushy areas, you could come across one." Though your first reaction may be to get rid of a snake, May says that people are usually better off just letting them be. "Staying away is safer than trying to whack at it," May said. "You have a greater chance of being bit on your forearm if you try to kill it. They will not hang around forever. They have to move around to hunt and eat." May also pointed out it's against state laws to kill a non-venomous snake. "They see you as a big predator," she said. "Whether they're venomous or not, you are a big predator that's going to hurt them. So the only time they're really going to go after you is if you corner them and that's their last chance of survival." Contrary to popular belief, they do not chase people. It may be that a person corners one and the only way out is past you, but snakes typically don't want anything to do with people. Occasionally, bites do happen. According to May, the best thing to do in this scenario is immediately go to a hospital. "People used to be instructed to take various precautions like sucking on the bite, but these can sometimes do more harm than good," she said. "More people hurt themselves than help themselves by doing that." If you spot a copperhead or any other venomous snakes while on base, please contact the base safety office at (678) 655-4434.
