Andy
Well-known member
This is a Cottonmouth, VENOMOUS DANGER DANGER!!!!
They're mostly confused with the Water Snake. (their colors and patterns resemble each others the most)
Northern Water Snake. (Non venomous)
Notice how different the heads are of the water snake vs the cottonmouth. Cottonmouths heads are more triangular vs the more oval of the water snake. Allthough some snakes will flatten out some when threatened making their heads more triangular (to mimick venomous snakes). Cottonmouths will swim with most of their body on top of water, like they're stuffed with styrofoam, water snakes swim more submerged. Cottonmouths have cat like pupils, water snakes pupils are round. Cottonmouths will have a pit between their eye and nostril on both sides of it's head, water snakes don't have pits. Sometimes, not always the cottonmouth will display with an open mouth when it feels threatened showing the "cotton" in it's mouth and will strike when threatened. Water snakes will generally try to run away rather than try to strike at you allthough they will strike. All snakes can strike 1/2 or more their body lenghth. And 85% of snake bites are on hands and forearms from people playing with or trying to catch snakes. So when in doubt back out....
PLEASE, take a little time and do some research to get familiar with snakes in your area. Atleast the venomous ones since there are fewer to remember. I'm by no means an expert on snakes, but just want to give some "peice of mind" info incase you or someone you're around has an encounter and you could possibly help them out..
:beer:
They're mostly confused with the Water Snake. (their colors and patterns resemble each others the most)
Northern Water Snake. (Non venomous)
Notice how different the heads are of the water snake vs the cottonmouth. Cottonmouths heads are more triangular vs the more oval of the water snake. Allthough some snakes will flatten out some when threatened making their heads more triangular (to mimick venomous snakes). Cottonmouths will swim with most of their body on top of water, like they're stuffed with styrofoam, water snakes swim more submerged. Cottonmouths have cat like pupils, water snakes pupils are round. Cottonmouths will have a pit between their eye and nostril on both sides of it's head, water snakes don't have pits. Sometimes, not always the cottonmouth will display with an open mouth when it feels threatened showing the "cotton" in it's mouth and will strike when threatened. Water snakes will generally try to run away rather than try to strike at you allthough they will strike. All snakes can strike 1/2 or more their body lenghth. And 85% of snake bites are on hands and forearms from people playing with or trying to catch snakes. So when in doubt back out....
PLEASE, take a little time and do some research to get familiar with snakes in your area. Atleast the venomous ones since there are fewer to remember. I'm by no means an expert on snakes, but just want to give some "peice of mind" info incase you or someone you're around has an encounter and you could possibly help them out..
:beer: