My experiences with the copperhead is the same as yours. They are much more aggressive when being caught. They strike multiple times, whether you are in range of their head or not. Back when I was catching rattlers for a serpentarium, we took some copperheads and they were far more aggressive. A rattlesnake typically waits until he thinks he can get a hit. And they become rather docile if you keep them for a few days. Not so the copperhead. Rattlesnakes can lull you into a false sense of security. Copperheads never. I liked catching rattlesnakes, but for sheer drama the copperhead wins out. It was incredible how many times the copperhead on my driveway was striking. All it took was a wave over him with my hand too far away for him to get me.
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