A lot of times we will come across an image that will leave us scratching our heads. Now a new viral image has people baffled about what could be hiding in it!
Keep reading to find out more about what lurks in plain sight!
About five months ago, Missouri Wildlife shared a now viral Facebook post, challenging the cyber community to find what lies within the dried foliage.
The post, that’s captioned “This is why you have to watch every step in the woods,” left users puzzled, some insisting it was an optical illusion.
Followers, who asked for help in identifying the mysterious object in the image, commented, “They’re just pulling your leg. There isn’t really a snake there!” Another shared, “Amazing camo! I still haven’t spotted it & I usually can.”
Answering the call for help, Missouri Wildlife added another photo, highlighting the slithery snakes. A user writes, “once you see it you can’t unsee it, but I sure struck out without your marking it!”
Nestled in the brown leaves on the ground is a venomous Copperhead snake that is among the most common in North America.
These venomous pit vipers have coppery-colored triangular heads, with bodies covered in pale or pinkish brown skin that’s wrapped with several hourglass markings.
Copperheads are not as dangerous as some snakes but when they do bite, their venom contains hemotoxins which can temporarily destroy muscle tissue, attack the circulatory system, and cause respiratory problems. However, a copperhead bite rarely yields enough venom to kill, and they usually resort to biting to warn or fight a threat. Still, they make up for the lack of poison by piercing skin with their sharp fangs, damaging skin tissue.
When a bite is treated, it is reversible.
Research shows that of the 7,000 to 8,000 snake bites across the U.S. each year, about 2,920 of the bites were from copperheads.
Copperheads–unlike many snakes that slither away when they feel threatened–freeze and camouflage into their surroundings, which is an impressive talent but a risky one.
They are so good at hiding that predators–including people, domestic and wild animals–can’t avoid what they don’t see and when too close, the snake strikes.
Recently, a dog owner in Fairfax, Virginia, called K2C Wildlife Encounters after finding three Copperheads hiding in the grass.
When wildlife control arrived, they used their eagle-eyed expertise to find the tricky snakes. Later, the rescue group launched a spot the snake challenge, this time posting two images.
The first picture appears to be lush green grass, to which one user commented, “Need to draw a red hat on it so we can do a Where’s Waldo.”
The next image is a red bucket holding three copperhead snakes.
“Look what happens when you have copperheads in leaves,” K2C Wildlife Encounters wrote in a Facebook post. “Magic, they disappear!”
“Snakes are often demonized in the media, and then myths and urban legends play on those created fears,” Bonnie Keller, K2C Wildlife Encounters cofounder, said. “Snakes of any species are much less likely to cause you harm than a dog, horse, cat [or] even a rabbit.”
Keller urges people who live in an area with snakes read up on snakes to be better informed.
“Learn about your local snakes so that you understand what they look like and where they are most likely to be found. Knowledge is power.”
If you’re bitten by a snake, venomous or not, see a doctor immediately.
And remember that snakes, though creepy, play an important role in the ecosystem. If your eyes are sharp enough to spot one, leave it alone, and if one is in your home, contact your local pest services.
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It’s disturbing to know that copperhead snakes are so great at hiding! We agree that knowledge is your best weapon so make sure you learn about snakes in your area.
Share this story and let others know about these sneaky snakes so they, too, can try avoid them!
