The beauty of the world we live in never ceases to astound me. You see, I’m fortunate enough to reside outside of the city limits, so I frequently take short walks in the morning that pass past fields, woodlands, hills, and streams.
Simply put, spending time in nature serves as a wonderful reminder of how amazing life can be. But even while you take in the sights, sounds, and smells, it’s crucial to stay aware of any potential threats.
Experienced walkers among you would know that there is a list of things to watch out for when trekking. For example, always keeping water on hand or making sure you have bear spray on hand (if relevant).
I considered myself informed about all that one might possibly want to know before leaving the house, as I enjoy taking lengthy walks throughout the year.
That is, until I noticed a picture circulating that alerted people to a risk that many of us might not have thought about. It’s not a concern for me given where I live, but I figured it would be helpful to let people know about the new information in case they ever find themselves in a scenario where they might need it.
Now, it makes sense that videos and photos become viral on a daily basis considering how vast and easily accessible the internet is.
The intriguing quality of an image from Missouri Wildlife that was first published a few months ago undoubtedly helped it draw widespread attention.

Credit / Facebook – Missouri Wildlife
The department posted a challenge asking online viewers to locate something meticulously hidden beneath the leaves covering the forest floor. I’ll be the first to say that I didn’t notice anything unusual in the image above, but you should still give it a go and see how you do.
Completed? Have you identified anything that stands out?
Well, it turned out that there were a lot of people unable to find anything amiss in Missouri Wildlife’s picture, so they later clarified the matter with a follow-up post.
Suffice it to say that once you see what was hiding in their initial image, you’ll never unsee it!…

Credit / Facebook – Missouri Wildlife
Hidden among the natural debris and foliage in the post was a Copperhead snake! Copperheads are masters at camouflage, blending in so well that the untrained eye has an extremely difficult time in picking them up.
The snakes can bite humans when they feel threatened, often causing temporary harm to muscles, circulation, and breathing. Fortunately, their attacks rarely prove fatal, though they’re responsible for over 2,900 of the 7,000-8,000 snake attacks that occur in the US every year.
So… next time you’re out in the wild, keep a careful eye on any leaf-strewn trails you might chance upon (providing you’re in an area where Copperheads live)!
I certainly never considered this before, and I had no idea that there was a snake lurking in the image above! Did you?