SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (WTHR) - If you're uneasy about snakes, you might want to avoid the Ozarks for a couple months.
According to KY3, as temperatures begin to cool in the fall, copperhead snakes are giving birth. Each litter could have around seven snakes when they are born through early October, putting a lot of snakes on and near the trails of southern Missouri.
The director of the Springfield Zoo said of all the venomous snakes, you're most likely to come across a copperhead, which are most commonly found basking in the sunlight during the morning hours. In the afternoon, the serpents often seek shade under brush or rocks.
The snakes have a distinctive "Hershey's Kiss" marking with a light tan background, KY3 reported, which naturally camouflages them. But they won't bite unless they're provoked and can only strike up to one-third of their body length, so experts recommend giving the snake space if you spot one.
Copperheads are venomous, but their bites are not usually life-threatening, though medical attention is still required for bite victims.
