Really? I didn't see it in the original post and I don't see anything here that makes it any clearer. I admit that I no longer have the best eyesight any more but even enlarged and magnified, all I see is wood chips.

Good thing the only snakes I need to worry about are garter snakes!

It will always be difficult to see.

I thought that it might be there, but I saw 2 other places that could have been the snake. That is how it is with copperheads. They disappear into their background.

Gardengal, look for a Hershey's kiss pattern. Copperheads are very distinctive because of that pattern on their sides.

I am not great at identifying snakes. Copperheads are related to cottonmouths, who also can have what looks like a pixelated version of the same pattern. But it isn't nearly as sharp in cottonmouths and it is really confounded by the fact they live in/near water and many nonvenomous water snakes look exactly the same to me. I joined a snake identifying group and more than half the time when people post a snake they think is a water moccasin....it's just a random water snake.

So I don't trust myself or other people to identify a cottonmouth. But copperheads? Look for that perfect Hershey's kiss pattern...can't miss it. 😄

Perhaps this pic will make it easier to see the pattern...

wow, that is well camouflaged.

I could have looked all day and not found that.

Me too, Ded. That’s incredible.

Thanks, Lars. I couldn't find it in all those leaves either.

Thanks, but I STILL wouln't have seen it without Ally De's hint about the pattern.

That was tough. I still had trouble seeing it even after you posted the solution.

We have both copperheads and rattlesnakes around our property in upstate PA. I only saw copperheads once when the landscaper disturbed them on the woodpile. Rattlesnakes are more common. DH uncovered a nest of little ones while spreading wood chips, apparently they enjoyed the warmth from the decomposing bark. We had one sunning in the leaves next to the house when DH leaned over to turn on the outside hose bib. It was coiled up next to the steps and the wall and difficult to see. I heard the warning rattle and yelled to DH to get back. He's hard of hearing and didn't hear it. We have a friend who is a PA state forester and licensed to catch them to milk for antivenom. He thought this was a juvenile male and offered to come over anytime we find one.