Georgia Man Finds Venomous Surprise in His Garage

In a Nutshell:

• A man in Cherokee County, Georgia, discovered two venomous copperhead snakes in his garage, triggering community alertness.
• The snakes were found slithering in and out of shoes outside the man’s door, prompting the intervention of a local reptile enthusiast, Josh Dameron.
• Copperhead snakes carry a potent venom but are typically non-aggressive, and bites are extremely rare. Misidentification is common due to similar-looking, non-venomous species in the area.

Residents of Cherokee County, Georgia, are now more cautious about their footwear after a local man found two venomous snakes taking up residence in his garage, slithering in and out of his shoes.

The snakes, identified as copperheads, startled the homeowner and left the local community on edge.

“I’ve seen 100-plus snakes in my neighborhood over the last five years,” Josh Dameron, the man’s neighbor and local reptile enthusiast, told Newsweek.

“Only one was a copperhead, and it was dead on the road far from homes at the entrance of the neighborhood.”

Copperheads, identifiable by their tan-colored bodies, dark bands in an hourglass shape, and copper-red heads, are venomous creatures prevalent throughout the eastern and central U.S.

They carry a toxin that aids in subduing their prey by causing the breakdown of red blood cells.

Despite this, bites from copperheads are exceedingly rare and fatalities almost nonexistent.

When the snakes’ presence was discovered, Dameron was sought out for his experience with reptile relocations.

He initially expected to be dealing with harmless species like garter or rat snakes, but found the two venomous copperheads “chilling out” at the bottom of the garage stairs instead.

“The snakes were surprisingly nonaggressive but fairly large,” he said. “Both over 2 feet.”

Misidentification of copperheads is a common issue in areas where similar-looking species coexist.

In this neighborhood, midland water snakes are often mistaken for copperheads.

The distinction lies in the pattern of the scales: water snakes have saddle-shaped dark bands, wide in the middle and narrowing at the edges, while copperheads display an hourglass pattern with the narrowest section in the center.

Despite the initial scare, the incident ended safely, and the homeowner was able to breathe easy.

Experts stress that if you are uncertain about a snake’s identity, it is always best to contact a professional.

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