I actually got into a debate with my dad about this one. My dad killed a copperhead last summer. And from what I have been able to research there have been very few deaths from copper heads and most involved multiple bites to a child or elderly person. He said that it was a dangerous snake. I countered by saying next time I found a stray dog that I thought might be dangerous I would just kill it. Clearly I am not serious on that statement but I think it proved my point to him because he never had a response.