Copperhead bite will make you very sick and hurts. My Dad was in the Biology Dept at NIU for over 30 years. The study of Amphibians and Reptiles was his Life! He always told me. Even though copperheads are hard to see and there bite painfull, they will not kill you. However, the Cottonmouth water mocasin often feeds on already dead infected prey. The Bacteria in there bite is deadly as gang green infection sets in and the limb is lost and amputated or infection kills? Dad handled all sorts of snakes from all over the world. He always said all gods creatures have a purpose! He is right!