Copperheads are found basically all over the state. I've found them to be especially abundant at Cades Cove in the Smokies, but they seem to be pretty scarce here in the Central Basin (Nashville - Murfreesboro area). Generally speaking, the Copperhead's reputation as a dangerous snake far exceeds its actual capabilities. A typical bite will cause a lot of superficial internal bleeding, which results in a big scary-looking bruise around the site of the bite. There will also usually be some pretty significant swelling. At this point, the typical person rushes to the hospital, thinking they're going to die, but the bites almost always heal completely with no medical intervention. Antivenom is very dangerous, so hospitals don't administer it unless absolutely necessary. Put that together with the fact that Copperhead bites usually heal on their own, and the result is that the hospital will almost certainly do nothing more than give you hardcore painkillers. Of course, there are the occasional allergic reactions (just like with bee stings), and that's why you sometimes hear news reports of people being killed by copperheads. But that is extremely rare.
Photos by Matthew Niemiller (top) & James Harding (bottom)
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