[Durham INC] Copperhead snakes are active & are poisonous; walking trials in Eno River State Park

Mon Oct 21 19:01:05 EDT 2013

Excellent site for identifying NC snakes:  http://www.herpsofnc.org/herps_of_NC/snakes/snakes.html 

I grew up in Orange County, NC, and have lived in Orange and Durham counties virtually all of my life.  After hearing about copperheads for 64 years, I finally saw my first copperhead a few weeks ago through glass doors on the south side of our Orange County home, slithering along our Chapel Hill gravel path.  It was large and impressive, and I did not know what it was until I identified it on the site above.  

Best,

Deb Christie

From: inc-list-bounces at rtpnet.org [mailto:inc-list-bounces at rtpnet.org] On Behalf Of Laura Drey
Sent: Sunday, October 20, 2013 10:08 AM
To: inc-list at durhaminc.org
Subject: [Durham INC] Copperhead snakes are active & are poisonous; walking trials in Eno River State Park

Copperhead snake bites are poisonous. I have seen these snakes in both the city and in the woods. Another Copperhead snake was run over in the Duke Forest neighborhood within the past day or two. Maybe with the temperature dropping the end of this coming week the snakes will go or begin to do dormant.

How to identify Copperhead snakes? Copperheads, like a lot of poisonous snakes, have diamond shaped heads. Copperhead snakes are multi-colored. Copperheads colorations may vary. Copperheads blend in with the background. I have known of people to walk close to Copperhead and the people be unaware of the snakes presence. 

What to so if you come across a Copperhead? I am by no means a professional or that knowledgeable but if/when you see a Copperhead I would recommend backing up while watching the snake and than changing your direction. My understanding of Copperheads is that they are snakes that will stay still when approached.

Just because the Trinagle has Copperheads I would not let that keep you from going out into the woods and/or walking in your yard or neighborhood. I for one love to walk in the woods during all times of the year (for my favorite trails see below). I believe that the Eno River State Park is one of Durham's great assets and it is great having the park so close by.

"A Copperhead snake bite needs medical attention, is extremely painful, and may cause extensive scarring and loss of use....For the most part, if you let snakes alone, they'll leave you alone.... (emphasis added) http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/gaston/Pests/reptiles/copperhead.htm

If you, or anyone you know, ever gets bitten go to a hospital. The antivenom needs to current. (A friend of mine got bitten in a rural area and had to go to two different hospital in order to get treated.)

For more information on Copperhead snakes see: 

http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/copperhead.htm has numbers of great pictures, explains their desciption and actions

http://www.copperhead-snake.com

For reliable medical information on Copperhead snakes from MedlinePlus a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health (NIH), http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ see:

 <http://vsearch.nlm.nih.gov/vivisimo/cgi-bin/query-meta?v%3afile=viv_kyRMf1&server=pvlbsrch12&v%3astate=root%7croot&url=http%3a%2f%2fwww.nlm.nih.gov%2fmedlineplus%2fency%2farticle%2f000031.htm&rid=Ndoc0&v%3aframe=redirect&v%3aredirect-hash=07a4027bf4acdd6b330e9f0602f3947c&> Snake bites from NIH http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000031.htm

 <http://vsearch.nlm.nih.gov/vivisimo/cgi-bin/query-meta?v%3afile=viv_kyRMf1&server=pvlbsrch12&v%3astate=root%7croot&url=http%3a%2f%2fwww.mayoclinic.com%2fprint%2ffirst-aid-snake-bites%2fFA00047%2fMETHOD%3dprint&rid=Ndoc1&v%3aframe=redirect&v%3aredirect-hash=fe902d4e2365b8500d4b8780d63f036e&> Snakebites: First Aid (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)  http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/first-aid-snake-bites/FA00047/METHOD=print

 <http://vsearch.nlm.nih.gov/vivisimo/cgi-bin/query-meta?v%3afile=viv_kyRMf1&server=pvlbsrch12&v%3astate=root%7croot&url=http%3a%2f%2ffamilydoctor.org%2ffamilydoctor%2fen%2fprevention-wellness%2fstaying-healthy%2fpets-animals%2favoiding-snakebites.printerview.all.html&rid=Ndoc2&v%3aframe=redirect&v%3aredirect-hash=866c5270334adbfef42b692951adce9e&> Avoiding Snakebites (American Academy of Family Physicians)

Seeing Copperheads in a Museum 

If you would like to see a live Copperhead Snake you may visit the Museum of Life and Science. If you want a rare opportunity to watch snakes feed behind glass go the museum on a Thursday at 4 pm.

Museum of Life + Science (919) 220-‐5429
433 Murray Ave., Durham, NC 27704 (between Duke St. and Roxboro Rd.)
Hands-‐on science exhibits including Carolina wildlife, farmyard, aerospace, weather, geology, wetlands. Train rides, rotating exhibits, drumming out of doors, large play yard. Walking trail is paved; wheelchairs available. 

·          Dinosaur Trail: http://www.ncmls.org/dinosaurs 

·          Magic Wings Butterfly House with butterfly releases at 11 am and 3 pm 

·          Snake feedings: Thursdays at 4 pm 

·          soundSpace: http://www.ncmls.org/exhibits/soundspace 

Wednesday afternoons are free (except for train rides) for Durham County residents, with proof of identification (or pay what you wish).
Special Services: Birthday parties, rent facilities for events, camps, classes
http://www.ncmls.org

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Trails in the Eno River State Park

ENO RIVER STATE PARK 

general http://www.ncparks.gov/Visit/parks/enri/main.php

maps and directions http://www.ncparks.gov/Visit/parks/enri/directions.php

map http://www.ncparks.gov/Visit/parks/enri/pics/parkmap.pdf

Few's Ford Section (all the way at the end of Cole Mill Rd)

1. Cox Mtn has a steep straight up climb a hill, through the woods with short distance next to Eno River 3.7 miles (circular)

2. Buckquarter Creek trail (over past few years dirt added around roots so trail is perfectly flat (has steps to go up and over rock out cropping at which point has the highest class rapids) as circular is 1.5 but i like to take it both ways along river with number of rapids and it connects like an 8 (2 circular trails) to Holden's Mill trail

3. Holden 's Mill trail (2.6 miles) not like as well because of scenery and small rock outcropping i have some difficulty going over (at which point i just turn around)

Old Pump Station (off Cole Mill Rd and turn right before stop light at church) original 1.5 easy (circular) follows river short distance, has ruins of pump station that dates to 1800s and now extended so can take trail if chose all the way to Guess Rd Laurel Bluff 2.5 miles (rarely done section closest to Pump Station if doing trail to Guess Rd I suggest parking a car at guess rd so you can shuttle and recently extended opposite direction (as part of Mountains to Sea trail has numbers small hills) 

Cole Mill Rd Access section (turn left off Sparger Rd at Umpstead (light)

1. Bobbitt Hole (1.6 miles) circular but i like to take it both ways along river in spring Mountain Laurels flower on hillside across river in small area. can swim at hole although few people do

2. Dunnagan's (connect with Bobbitt if want longer trail but I do them separately) 1.8 miles circular but i often take it both ways along river

3. Pea Creek trail (circular section between Dunnagan's and Bobbitt) 1.3 miles but I like to take it both ways along river if do circular go by old home site with a tombstone, Daffodils

Cabe Lands Section

circular with forwards and back section (hilly with lots of roots) or can leave off circular (that includes the river part) and go straight to the quarry which i swimmable (no lifeguard) but need to be a good swimmer because the sides drop directly about 40 ft a drawback with this trail is that you hear Hwy 85. to get to the quarry need to cross rocks in a stream, that are wobbly and sometimes some of the rocks can be somewhat submerged after a rain.

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General information on the Eno River State Park

Eno River State Park (919) 383-‐1686
Office: 6101 Cole Mill Road, Durham, NC 27705
GPS coordinates: 36.0783, -‐79.0050
Park spans Durham and Orange counties, and has 3,900 acres. 

Active Activities: See details: http://www.ncparks.gov/Visit/parks/enri/facilities.php Boating: Bring your own canoe, nonmotorized boat, or kayak. 

best time to "run" (kayak and canoe) the Eno is after heavy rains raise the water level. Good canoeing conditions can occur any time during the year but are most common during the winter and spring. Under normal conditions, the boaters must frequently get out and pull their boats over 
My observation is that there are few times when canoes can be used. Kayaks are better. Caution: When rivers are flooded, boating is dangerous. 

Camping: primitive and group only in designated areas

o     Hiking: has a trail with a swinging bridge; trails that are part of the Mountain-‐to-‐Sea Trails 

o     Fishing 

o     Restrictions 

o Noswimming Other Activities & Facilities 

o     Education 

o     Picnicking 

o     Special events 

http://www.ncparks.gov/Visit/parks/enri/main.php 

Laura

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