PARK NEWS

FIND A PARK

FIND AN ACTIVITY

ADMINISTRATION

Online Services

Our Government

News and Events

Maps, Facts & Stats

State & Federal

 

Northern Copperhead Name: Orion Northern Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen) Native to Fairfax County Orion was captured here at Riverbend Park by an experienced naturalist. Visitors get a chance to visit with and learn about Fairfax County's only venomous snake in a safe environment. Learning to identify a copperhead helps to stop the killing of the 15+ types of non-venomous snakes living in Fairfax County. The key to recognizing a copperhead is the pattern on the body. The color on copperheads can be highly variable and is not reliable for identification. The copperhead has an hour-glass shape draped across its body. The thin middle of the hour-glass is on the middle of the snake's back. Please remember to always keep a safe distance from an unidentified snake! In the wild, the copperhead is rarely seen due to its elusiveness and shyness. This non-aggressive snake usually strikes when stepped on or provoked. If you are bitten go to the hospital immediately; however, the bite is rarely, if ever, fatal to humans. In the state of Virginia, no recorded human deaths have occurred from a copperhead bite. Just download our Sponsorship Form to adopt me or any of my friends! Adobe Acrobat Reader version 4.0 or greater is required to view and print this file. Turtles Toads and Lizards Birds Snakes Eastern Box Turtle American Toad Bluebird House Eastern Ratsnake Eastern Painted Turtle Gray Treefrog           Northern Copperhead       Five-lined Skink