They aren't normally lethal to adults, but children, the elderly and especially pets are at risk from the bites.
In the 20 years I've been here I've only come across one in the wild, but I don't go hunting for them. I actually captured that one, which was crawling into a display enclosure at the Carolina Raptor Center. I also have a copperhead skin hatband on a cowboy hat I own, courtesy of a copperhead who tried to cross the road in front of our house and failed.
People often confuse other snakes for copperheads - - the blogger known as AD (Ambulance Driver) did it here - - but a few minutes' study can teach you to see the difference. Here in NC, this is what a copperhead looks like:
The harmless Corn Snake, which comes in several color variations, can look similar:
Another NC snake often confused with the copperhead is the Mole Kingsnake, although this snake is secretive and not often seen by humans (I actually saw a pair of male Mole Kingsnakes engaging in combat over a female):
Some water snakes can be confused with copperheads, although water snakes are far more often confused with cottonmouths.
Copperheads eat rodents, so if you don't engage in habits that attract rodents to your house, the copperheads won't follow. The #1 way to attract rodents to your house is to have bird feeders; the seeds that drop to the ground attract mice, a favorite food of copperheads (and other snakes).
Snakebites can be classified in two broad categories: legitimate bites come from the snake defending itself after being inadvertently stepped on or frightened by an otherwise oblivious human; illegitimate bites are those that come from humans who attempt to capture or kill a venomous snake and are bitten while doing so. Many of these cases come from religious snake handlers, as you might expect. I'd have a hard time condemning anyone for killing a venomous snake in their yard, but I'd not be happy with those who kill every venomous snake they come across while hiking or otherwise in the wilderness. Leave 'em alone; they live there, you don't.
If you're bitten, you need to get to the emergency room as soon as possible. You probably won't be given antivenin for a copperhead bite, as they aren't usually fatal. You'll need antibiotics, however, to lessen chance of infection that results from the bite, and anti-tetanus as a preventative measure, just as if you encountered a rusty nail. Don't cut the bite or use a tourniquet; those are old techniques that have long been discredited. Just get to the emergency room as quickly and safely as possible.
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