I'm with Mr. Fudge on this one. I've read up a bit on copperhead identification because my girls and I do a lot of traipsin' through the woods and wadin' through the creeks during the summer, which is right upon us. As I understand it, copperheads have bowtie shaped dark patterns. The narrow part of the bowtie is on the top of the back. Water snakes look very similar, but their dark pattern is the opposite with the thick part directly on the back. That's how this snake's markings appear. Either way, when we see a snake colored up like that, we make a wide path around it.

My daughter did ask me yesterday as we were walking what we would do if we saw a bear. I don't think I would be quite as calm as I would if it were a snake. Is there a correct answer to what you do if you see a bear? --Kelly Crawhorn