Use a flashlight to illuminate the area where the snake is lying. Step back and observe the snake's head from a difference. Copperhead snakes always have a copper- or rust-colored patch on their triangular-shaped head. Young and adult black rat snakes have more of a smaller, oval-shaped head and no colored patch.
Use a garden hoe to slowly move any leaves or foliage from around the snake to get a better look. Do not alarm the snake; the reptile may launch.
Look at the snake's entire body. Copperhead snakes have orange, pink or light brown bodes highlighted with dark, chestnut brown bands that crisscross. The bands form a series of hourglass-like shapes across their backs. Black rat snakes are black in color. Their bodes are covered in smooth scales with red, yellow or white coloring in areas between their scales. Young black rat snakes contain a pattern on their bodies consisting of 28 to 40 black or dark brown blotches on a uniformly gray background.
Look at the snake's tail. Young copperhead snakes have lemon-colored tails; young black rat snakes do not have this coloring on their tails.
Look at the shape of the snake's body. Copperhead snakes have round bodies. Black rat snakes have bodies that resemble a loaf of bread. Step away from the snake and let it leave on its own or contact your area's animal control service to have the snake removed.
