can you identify this snake?

[Trackstrong83]

I know this is in the wrong section but im on my phone and couldnt find the "field herping" section.

Hey everyone. My friend was out on the lake yesterday, and his dad had killed this snake because he didn't know what it was. I did see it in person, but by the pictures it looks like a cottonmouth. But I've never seen a cottonmouth with color like this. Any ideas? Sorry, pics are slightly gruesome.

[BallsUnlimited]

looks to be a cottom mouth

[Trackstrong83]

I'm torn between cotton mouth and brown water snake. They look so much alike down here in Georgia.

[BallsUnlimited]

ehh the more i look at it the more it looks like a brown water snake

[John1982]

Looks like a harmless water snake to me, northern or brown perhaps. I was never particularly interested in water snakes so don't know them well enough make a positive identification. It certainly does NOT look like a cottonmouth to me though.

[Trackstrong83]

the water snakes head is round i thought were the copper head has more of a pointed. correct me if im wrong

That's what I always thought too lol but copperheards are very distinct, cotton mouths and water snakes looks VERY similar down here. Some water snakes have the "triangle" shaped head as well as the cotton mouths.

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Looks like a harmless water snake to me, northern or brown perhaps. I was never particularly interested in water snakes so don't know them well enough make a positive identification. It certainly does NOT look like a cottonmouth to me though.

Yeah I never really had an interest in them either. Most cotton mouths around here are jet black, that's why the color threw me for a loop here. I wish I coulda seen it in person to make a positive I.D.

[John1982]

If it was a cottonmouth believe me you'd know, the difference is unmistakable between them and any of their local counterparts.

[BallsUnlimited]

the cm also seems to have a banded pattern it seems where the brown water snake had a more broken up pattern

[John1982]

Yeah I never really had an interest in them either. Most cotton mouths around here are jet black, that's why the color threw me for a loop here. I wish I coulda seen it in person to make a positive I.D.

They are born lighter, so you can see their pattern more easily, but darken with age.

[h&tmaster]

alls i know, is where i'm from, when you see a head like that you kill it or run.