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If you’ve found a copperhead near your home, yard, shed, or woodpile, don’t try to handle it. Virginia Professional Wildlife Removal Services provides safe copperhead snake removal and practical prevention throughout Virginia.
Copperhead Safety Tip
Copperheads rely on camouflage and often stay still when people get close. Therefore, the safest choice is to back away, bring pets and kids inside, and call a professional. Also, reduce hiding places by keeping grass trimmed, moving woodpiles away from the home, and removing brush piles.
Why Copperheads Are One of the Most Common Virginia Snake Calls
Copperheads are one of the snakes we get called about most because they blend in well and often stay still instead of fleeing. They may show up near:
- rock walls and landscape timbers
- woodpiles and brush piles
- tall grass and debris edges
- crawl spaces, sheds, and garages
- ponds and damp low areas
Copperheads can bite if threatened. When you see one, the safest move is to keep your distance, bring kids and pets inside, and call a professional. Copperheads may bite if they feel trapped or surprised.
Copperhead Identification
Copperheads have a few common traits that help with ID:
- Hourglass-shaped crossbands (thin across the back, wider on the sides). Warning: This is not always the case. Do not handle any snake.
- Coppery head tone (often like a penny)
- Young copperheads may have a yellow-tipped tail
Important: Many harmless snakes get misidentified and killed. If you’re unsure, treat it as venomous and let a pro confirm from a safe distance.
For broader help with venomous and nonvenomous snake situations, see our Snake Removal in Virginia page.
What To Do If You See A Copperhead
If you spot a snake you believe is a copperhead:
- Back away and keep eyes on it from a distance.
- Bring pets and kids inside.
- Do not try to trap, pin, or kill it.
- Call us so we can remove it safely and help reduce repeat sightings.
General first aid guidance for snakebites is to seek urgent medical help and avoid “DIY” methods like cutting, sucking venom, or using tourniquets.
Copperhead Bites and Pets
If a copperhead bites your dog or cat, call your vet immediately. Even when bites are not fatal, they can cause serious swelling and pain, and your vet should guide treatment.
Our Copperhead Snake Removal and Prevention Process
We focus on two things: safe removal now and lower risk later.
- Removal / capture (when needed)
- Property inspection to find why snakes are using the area
- Prevention recommendations, which may include:
- reducing brush piles and ground clutter
- improving rodent control (snakes follow food)
- sealing gaps under sheds, steps, and foundations
- adjusting landscaping that creates hiding cover
Copperhead Snake Removal FAQ
A: Copperhead bites can be serious. If a bite happens, get medical help right away. For pets, call your vet immediately.
A: Typically, no. Most copperheads avoid people and bite only when threatened, cornered, or accidentally stepped near.
A: Sometimes. A single sighting can happen, but repeated sightings often mean the yard has good hiding cover and prey (like rodents or frogs).
A: No. Trying to kill a snake is one of the most common ways people get bitten. Keep your distance and call a pro.
A: The best long-term plan combines habitat cleanup (trim grass, remove debris/brush) and exclusion where needed (seal gaps under sheds/steps, reduce rodent activity).
Where Copperheads Live in Virginia
Copperheads occur across Virginia and use many habitats, including forests, fields, rocky areas, and even some suburban edges.
If you’re dealing with repeat copperhead or snake activity, prevention matters just as much as removal. For general snake help, visit our Snake Removal page.
Service Areas: Statewide
We provide copperhead snake removal across the Central Virginia, Northern Virginia, Tidewater / Hampton Roads, and the Shenandoah Valley / Southwest Virginia regions.
For the full list of the cities, counties and towns where we provide service, visit:
If you don’t see your city listed, contact us—we often serve nearby areas and can confirm availability quickly.
Request Copperhead Snake Removal
Call (804) 729-0046 or (888) 824-7383, or use the form below to request service.