Helen, I never, ever pull a weed after dark and in daylight I wear gloves. I always think of my aunt who pulled some weeds by her cellar door and was bit by a Copperhead. She lost her finger! Please make yourself wear gloves. I just use those popular gardening gloves so I don't know how much protection it would be. I just don't garden at all after dark!!!!!

Also never ever garden in sandals or shorts! OK, through preaching.

Remember the old song, "snakes crawl at night"?
I'm with Glenda on this--and no sandals--here I thought I was the only one that felt this way--Please, everyone be careful (the copperhead pattern makes me sick at my stomach.) Several years ago, late March, I was cleaning up concrete blocks in a unused portion, and it had tall dead grasses,I'd worked for probably a hour, then I took the riding mower in to slick it all down. I'd made several rounds, and mower went "clunk" when I hit something, and mower died.I looked down, and saw a portion of a copperhead about as big around as my forearm! I should have been in the Olympics for the leap I made! Cleared the mowed area!! And I didnt go back after the mower for a week!!

I got brave because I didn't see any copperheads last year in my yard. This guy is right by my house; I didn't catch him. My yard is wild and I have been pulling weeds like mad lately. I will not be pulling weeds for a while.

Lord, Helen, please be careful out there. I can't think of anything more scary than just seeing a copperhead. My folks kept a hoe hidden on the patio for just a scenario. I'm glad they or I never had to use it. I guess I could, but I sure don't want the challenge!
Sunny

Not sure what I'd do. If you let your weeds grow, the copperheads will have more places to hide, and more mice and bunnies to eat. But if you pull your weeds, you might get bitten. Please be careful.

I still have never seen one here. I found a snake skin near the yard this week but I'm telling myself it was just a black snake.

In the daytime I can see where I am putting my hands and it doesn't seem like such a big problem. I will be more careful at night. If copperheads were aggressive, I would have been bit long ago. I will probably be looking for it at night with my long hoe in hand. I need to move pots away from the front of my house because it could get under those. The dogs have confined themselves to one big excavation this year. They usually get in trouble for laying on my hostas and impatients in the snake bed. I may invite them back. They would see the snake and tell me about it. Paranoid Puffy is also a good snake cat.

One thing for everyone to remember--don't kill king snakes--they're the black ones with green speckles. It IS true that they destroy copperheads--not just a old wives tale-love my king snakes!

I also love King snakes. They will eat any other snake that is a few inches shorter than they are. I don't see them often. I have not seen many garter snakes this year; I like them too.