P.D., Burrumbeet.

Yes, this is a young copperhead, distinguished by its dark head and general colour. The dark head fades as the snake grows. Older specimens are much darker and greyer, but they retain the yellowish tone below.

The copperhead is the most common snake in the Ballarat district, living even in places such as farmland, near dams and in ditches, swamps and damp places. It and the tiger snake and black snake produce live young, while the brown snake lays eggs. A female copperhead can produce large numbers of youngsters (often 12 or more). These are about 190mm long at birth, appearing in February or March.