Beware Of Extra Copperheads Out Snacking On Cicadas In Kentucky This Spring
Nature is a part of life and sometimes it’s cute and cuddly while other times it’s… not. Of course, every creature throughout Kentucky has a place in its ecosystem, but some of the habits of these animals are downright hair-raising. By now you likely know that the Bluegrass State is going to be invaded by millions of cicadas this spring and we are getting very close to their arrival. What you may not know is that with all of these bugs comes extra copperhead snakes in Kentucky, slithering out for a snack. These venomous snakes can be found all over Kentucky, so keep an eye out for them this spring. And fair warning: if you’re not a fan of bugs and snakes, you may want to read the rest of this article with your eyes mostly covered.
Every 17 years, this particular brood of cicadas makes its appearance in Kentucky and 2021 is our lucky year! Well, maybe it's not lucky for people, but the copperhead snakes in Kentucky sure will be excited to have more than enough food for a few weeks.
Copperhead snakes can be found throughout much of Kentucky and while they are venomous, they are typically not incredibly harmful to humans. That being said, if you see one slithering around, looking for a snack, you probably shouldn't get close.
And you may see more of these snakes this year thanks to the Brood X cicadas. These large bugs make great food for snakes and they often seek them out at night.
Kentucky photographer Sarah Phillips has created a Facebook page, Capturing Contortrix Photography, that literally captures the snakes hunting down their prey. The photos are incredible and capture nature's circle of life. And in case you didn't know, Contortrix is another name for Copperhead.
Many of the photos were taken in Eastern Kentucky, a place where you can come across copperheads while hiking or camping. And with the abundance of cicadas this year, you'll definitely want to be on the look out.
We all know snakes and cicadas exist, but it's probably true that most of us would rather they stay in photos rather than our yards. But if you want to learn even more about cicadas and copperheads and their... unique... relationship, check out this article where an EKU professor discusses more about this behavior of predator and prey.
Cicadas and copperhead snakes in Kentucky are not unusual, but expect an influx of both this year. And as you can tell by these incredible photos by Sarah Phillips of Capturing Contortix Photography, copperheads may be the only things that are excited about the millions of cicadas that will be crawling up from the ground this spring in Kentucky. So what do you think of this aspect of nature? Cool or creepy? Maybe a little of both? Let us know in the comments!
A Cincinnati native who has lived in Kentucky for over 10 years, Andrea's heart belongs both in the Queen City and the Bluegrass State. After earning an education degree and working in that field for a number of years, Andrea began to pursue her passion for writing over 6 years ago. Since then she has written for a number of print and online publications, as well as published a children's book.
