Note that David Dennis, MD also sits on the Civilian Biodefense Committee at Johns Hopkins, as does Michael Ascher, MD PhD of the California DHS. This is the same committee that has published the recent series of articles in the Journal of the American Medical Association on organisms of relevance as biowarfare agents.
The copperhead injects its venom through ducts in its fangs. Its venom disrupts the red blood cells of its prey that in turn becomes completely subdued. Copperhead snakes have jaws that are flexible enough to swallow prey larger than twice its own diameter.pproximately 37 percent of all venomous snake bites are from copperheads. In some states, the percentage of venomous snake bites by the Agkistrodon is much higher. Over a 40-year period in North Carolina, 64 percent of all venomous bites were from the copperhead snake.
The northern copperhead is one of two venomous species of snake found in New Jersey (the other being the timber rattlesnake). It may grow to a length of 22-53 inches. When alarmed, it may violently vibrate its tail.