Re: Water Moccasin? Cottonmouth?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
ChrisBowsman
Wow, I didn't know that. Cool looking snake.
Does anybody know if they're native to SW Ohio? Seems like I remember being warned about them while camping somewhere fairly close.
Not sure about Ohio. I know that we don't have them here in NY. I thought that we did, after apparently seeing what is called a Water Snake in a nearby creek, but after researching, I found this.. off of SUNY's website..
"The water snake is found in and around almost any waterbody or wetland in the state. As an adult, it is a stout animal typically dark brown to black with lighter-colored bands and splotches along its length. This is most pronounced in young individuals (adults may appear solid black). It is the only large (up to 42 inches) water snake in our range. This species is frequently called or mistaken for a cottonmouth (water moccasin); this latter species is a large venomous snake that does not occur within our state borders. This confusion is understandable as our water snake is certainly an aggressive species with a nasty disposition and it does bear a superficial resemblance to the cottonmouth."
