[CatherineofAragon]

"Add to this the fact that in Virginia, the local (harmless) black snake population has interbred with copperheads, producing a venomous black snake offspring. As stated, "from a distance" thank you very much."

I wish I'd known that the last time I went out to watch a black snake undulate across the driveway. Thanks for the information.

[PowderMonkey]

This was reported in the local paper about five years back, when I lived in Spotsylvania County. As the shrubs and trees (general cover) on the property reached maturity, finding big shed snake skins was common. Field mice were a big problem. I suspect that’s why the snakes took up residence. One shed skin I found would have belonged to a snake about as thick as my forearm, and about five feet long.

[Salamander]

Uh, Coppers are live-bearers and Black Rats are egg layers.

Hybridization is physically impossible.

[Salamander]

And Black Rats delight in eating Coppers.

Doubly impossible.