Have you ever looked at a picture and thought, “What’s going on here?” Well, that’s just what’s happened with a picture that’s gone around the internet like wildfire! The picture was shared by Missouri Wildlife about five months ago. They asked people online to figure out what was hiding in a picture of some dry leaves.
The post had a caption that said, “This is why you have to watch every step in the woods,” and it really got people thinking. Some people even thought it might be a trick of the eye, or an optical illusion. They were all trying to work out the secret hidden in the picture.
People looking at the picture started to ask for clues because they couldn’t figure out what was hidden. Some folks even said, “They’re just pulling your leg. There isn’t really a snake there!” Others commented, “Amazing camo! I still haven’t spotted it & I usually can.”
Missouri Wildlife helped everyone by posting another picture pointing out the snake’s location. Someone commented, “once you see it you can’t unsee it, but I sure struck out without your marking it!” Hidden among the brown leaves was a Copperhead snake. This snake is one of the most common venomous snakes in North America.
Copperheads are a type of snake known as pit vipers. They have a head that is a coppery color and shaped like a triangle. Their bodies are a light brown or pinkish color and they have patterns on their skin that look like hourglass shapes.
While Copperheads aren’t as scary as some snakes, their bites can still be pretty nasty. They have a poison that can hurt muscles, mess with your blood, and make it hard to breathe. But they don’t usually have enough poison to kill someone. They mostly bite to warn something that is bothering them or to protect themselves. Their bite hurts a lot because they have sharp teeth that can tear up skin. But don’t worry too much, if someone gets bitten and is taken care of quickly, they can get better.
Every year in the U.S., there are about 7,000 to 8,000 snake bites. Out of those, around 2,920 are from Copperheads. That’s a lot of bites!
Copperheads are a bit different from other snakes. Instead of slithering away when they feel scared, they stay still and blend in with what’s around them. This is a cool trick, but it can be risky. They are so good at hiding that other animals, and even people, might not see them. If something gets too close, the snake might bite.
For example, not long ago, a dog owner in Fairfax, Virginia, found three Copperheads in the grass. They called K2C Wildlife Encounters for help.
When the wildlife helpers got there, they used their sharp eyes to find the sneaky snakes. Later, they decided to have some fun and posted a challenge for people to find the snake in a picture. The first picture looked like just a patch of green grass. Someone even joked,“Need to draw a red hat on it so we can do a Where’s Waldo.”
The second picture was of a red bucket with three Copperhead snakes in it.“Look what happens when you have copperheads in leaves,” the wildlife group wrote on Facebook. “magic, they disappear!”
Bonnie Keller, who helped start K2C Wildlife Encounters, reminded people that snakes aren’t as bad as they might think. She said, “Snakes are often demonized in the media, and then myths and urban legends play on those created fears.” She also pointed out that other animals like dogs, cats, horses, and even rabbits are more likely to hurt someone than a snake is.
Keller advises people who live where there are snakes to learn more about them. She says, “Learn about your local snakes so that you understand what they look like and where they are most likely to be found. Knowledge is power.”
If you get bitten by a snake, whether it’s a poisonous one or not, you should go to the doctor right away.
And remember, even though snakes might seem a bit creepy, they are really important for the world around us. If you’re good at spotting them, just let them be. If you find one in your house, you should call the people who take care of pests to help get it out.
It might be a bit scary to think about how good Copperhead snakes are at hiding! But remember, knowing about something is the best way to stay safe. So, learn about the snakes that live where you are.
Why not share this story with others? That way, they can also learn about these sneaky snakes and know to stay away from them.
