Note that David Dennis, MD also sits on the Civilian Biodefense Committee at Johns Hopkins, as does Michael Ascher, MD PhD of the California DHS. This is the same committee that has published the recent series of articles in the Journal of the American Medical Association on organisms of relevance as biowarfare agents.
The copperhead injects its venom through ducts in its fangs. Its venom disrupts the red blood cells of its prey that in turn becomes completely subdued. Copperhead snakes have jaws that are flexible enough to swallow prey larger than twice its own diameter.pproximately 37 percent of all venomous snake bites are from copperheads. In some states, the percentage of venomous snake bites by the Agkistrodon is much higher. Over a 40-year period in North Carolina, 64 percent of all venomous bites were from the copperhead snake.
The Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix) is by far the most wide spread venomous snake of Georgia (and the U.S.). They can be found ALL over Georgia (except some southern counties bordering Florida). There are five sub-species of copperhead (3 are in Georgia); Since many share overlapping territories they will often cross breed. It is more likely to find one with traits from several sub-species. The good news is that all Georgia's copperheads are close enough in appearance. If you can learn to identify one, you can easily identify all.