“Bites from copperheads are uncommon, and although the venom can cause severe tissue damage to the bite area, death from a copperhead bite is extremely rare.” DNREC
Size
Adults usually about 2 to 3 feet (24-36 in); record about 53 inches.
How to recognize it
Vertical (cat-like) pupils and a heat-sensing pit between eye and nostril
Heavy-bodied; keeled scales
Head shape alone is not a reliable way to identify copperheads
Where in Delaware
Only in southern Sussex County and near Wilmington (DNREC); the Philadelphia Poison Control Center says all of DE DNREC
What the sources say
Venom: “Delaware only has one species of snake that is venomous – the eastern copperhead.” (DNREC)
Georgia DNR lists the gray rat snake and the yellow phase of the eastern rat snake among nonvenomous snakes often confused with copperheads. Virginia DWR says baby eastern ratsnakes (black snakes) and northern black racers are the most commonly misidentified baby snakes, and that juvenile copperheads look much like adults but with a bright yellow tail. New Jersey DFW: copperheads have a unique hourglass pattern, wide on the sides and narrow across the back, and young copperheads have a greenish-yellow-tipped tail. Hatchling and yearling black rat snakes have irregularly shaped blotches, and the pattern runs through the tip of a pointed tail.
Black rat snake or North American racer (black racer)?
Ohio DNR: the adult black racer has no dorsal pattern at all, while most black (gray) ratsnakes show at least a trace of pattern. Indiana DNR adds that some adults lose the pattern and look solid black, so this does not separate every snake. NCWRC: racers are smaller and faster-moving.
Georgia DNR says corn snakes are longer and slender, have an elongated head and square blotches with black outlines down the back, and tend to show more red, orange and yellow. (Georgia DNR also says corn snakes have smooth, shiny scales; the Florida Museum, UGA SREL and LDWF describe corn snake scales as weakly or slightly keeled, so scale texture is not offered here as a way to tell them apart.)
Copperheads have bold hourglass-shaped bands, and young copperheads under about 12 inches have bright yellow tail tips. Brown snakes have small spots, not hourglass bands.
Brown Snake (Dekay's Brownsnake) or Red-bellied Snake?
The red-bellied snake has a red underside; the brown snake's belly is cream, yellow or pink.
Photos show typical adults; individuals vary. Never get close to compare.
When venomous snakes are active in Delaware
Records of snakes in Delaware peak in April to June. They show when people record snakes, not how many there are (about month bars).
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
535 records of snakes in Delaware by month (GBIF, CC0 and CC BY records).
Reptiles become less active around Halloween and stay that way until about March; snakes shelter underground below the frost line. DNREC
If you are bitten or stung
Call 911 or Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 right away. Poison Help connects you to your local poison center, any time of day.
Official advice from DNREC:
Anyone who thinks a copperhead bit them should get medical attention right away (call 911 or Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222). DNREC
If bitten by any snake, try to get a photo of it so the species can be identified. DNREC
If you encounter a snake, a spray from a garden hose can safely encourage it to move on. DNREC
How to report
Invasive aquatic species: report to the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife by phone, email or the online Invasive Fish Tracker. Invasive terrestrial species: Wildlife Section, 302-739-9912. Sick or dead wildlife (five or more at one place): 302-735-3600 ext. 2. Wildlife damage biologist: 302-735-8683. DNREC
Venom labels come only from official sources and link to them; "Not stated" never means harmless. How labels work.
Sources
Delaware's Endangered Species. Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC). datePublished 2020-05-15, dateModified 2025-04-28; checked November 3, 2026.
Snakes to Watch Out For (Outdoor Delaware). Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC). published 2021-07-09, modified 2026-05-07; checked November 3, 2026.Quoted passages (9)
“Despite its small size, the First State has 19 different species.”
“They are harmless, although they will rear back in a strike position and may vibrate their tails if they feel threatened.”
“Delaware only has one species of snake that is venomous – the eastern copperhead.”
“This species is harmless and typically flees when encountered but will aggressively bite if handled.”
“The species is harmless and flees into water or a nearby hole when encountered but will bite aggressively when captured.”
“Bites from copperheads are uncommon, and although the venom can cause severe tissue damage to the bite area, death from a copperhead bite is extremely rare.”
“Regardless, anyone who suspects they were bitten by a copperhead should seek medical attention immediately.”
“If you are bitten by any snake, try to get a photo of the snake so the species can be identified and proper treatment can be administered.”
“If you encounter a snake, you can use spray from a garden hose to safely encourage it to move on.”
Update and Revision of Delaware's SGCN List. Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC). datePublished 2025-07-16, dateModified 2025-12-16; checked November 3, 2026.
“For reptiles, there’s generally a decline in activity around Halloween. That period of decreased activity lasts until about March”
Invasive Aquatic Species. Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC). published 2020-02-11, modified 2025-02-03; checked November 3, 2026.Quoted passages (1)
“It is also important to keep an eye out for invasive terrestrial species. They should be reported to the Wildlife Section, at 302-739-9912.”
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