Copperheads are fairly large – 24 - 40 in (61 - 102 cm), heavy-bodied snakes with large, triangular heads and elliptical pupils (cat eyes). The body is tan to brown with darker hourglass-shaped crossbands down the length of the body. Individuals from the Coastal Plain often have crossbands that are broken along the center of the back. The head is solid brown, and there are two tiny dots in the center of the top of the head. Juveniles resemble adults but have a bright yellow tail tip. As pit-vipers they have facial pits that sense heat and are used to detect prey and predators. Male copperheads are larger than females. Many harmless species in our region are confused with this species but copperheads are the only species with hourglass-shaped crossbands (all other species have blotches that are circular, square, or are widest down the center of the back).
Copperheads range throughout the eastern and central United States but are absent from most of Florida and south-central Georgia. Although copperheads are found in forested areas throughout most of South Carolina and Georgia, their habitat preferences change across our region. In the mountains, copperheads are most common on dry rocky hillsides and sometimes den communally with timber rattlesnakes (Crotalus horridus) on open, south-facing hillsides. In the Coastal Plain copperheads are most abundant in lowland hardwood forest and swamp margins. Copperheads are quite tolerant of habitat alteration and remain common in suburban areas of many large cities.
Welcome to Watch For Snakes #5, this great series was originally placed by FLmassage1 in 2008 sadly he is no longer playing so I decided to keep this great series alive by adopting them and making a few changes from his original hides.
You are on a 12.1 miles journey through the wonderful Florida Everglades which will give you 10 great hides on key spots of this trail.
I will strongly recommend you to do this great journey on bike, but for the most extreme geocachers it will be a great hike as well.
ON December 31 of 2010 a group of 9 geocachers and three geo k9 decided to help me fix and replace this whole series at one shot. Needless to say it was an amazing way to close a caching year!
Rangergirl141, soflfamily, McPhenius, radioman84, ikolor, HurricaneJuan & Hazel, Kato and Ruby
The repair crew!
Suggested gear for this cache
*Bug repellent
*hiking footwear
*hiking pole or stick
*Water
*Bike
*Hat
* Tire repair kit ( BIKES )
*Camera
*Essential “the will to hike/bike and know your Everglades”