Possible Cottonmouth

[ckuhn003]

My in-laws found this unlucky snake on their dock in Alabama this morning. They are claiming it was a Cottonmouth. Do you agree??




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[Bogertophis]

I cannot tell from this distance, but "water moccasins"/aka "cottonmouth" snakes are often confused with harmless water snakes, same thing where I live too.
I'd never kill either one, just relocate them.

http://ufwildlife.ifas.ufl.edu/water...mparison.shtml

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuBlajsf714

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oa6VziZH78

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6Ao4lRlcuY

[NewmanLovesSnakes]

There’s a snake ID page you can post on Facebook to get an accurate Id. I’m going to say based on the light coloration and pattern that this is not a cotton mouth. They typically get darker as they get older and do not have tan colors anywhere on their color pattern. It’s more of black saddle type marks and a reddish or dark brown “white space”. Also juveniles have a green tail which this one does not which would also indicate if it was a cotton mouth it would be darker though the body. Here’s a simple guid to give your family but please ask them to just leave the snake alone instead of killing it next time.


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[ckuhn003]

Thanks everyone for the education. I know common water snakes can easily be confused with Cottonmouths. As for recommending non snake lovers like ourselves to not harm or kill snakes they believe are venomous is easier said then done. Especially in an area where children frequent. I sent my in-laws your responses as to hopefully educate them. Thank you!

[Bogertophis]

I used to live in the desert where there were 6 kinds of local rattlesnakes around, depending on which direction you walked. Relocating snakes safely is NOT hard-
I used a heavy-duty snake hook (about 40" long) and a tall plastic trash can. These snakes can only strike about half the length of their body, so it's not hard to stay
out of their reach & use that snake hook to gently lift under their mid-body (thickest part) & slide them into the trash can placed on it's side, then quickly tilt it upright,
put the lid on, secure with a bungee cord, and drive a little ways where they won't contact people and let them loose. Undo the lid, tilt the can over & they'll slide out.

Humans of most any age can out-walk (not run, walk!) these snakes...they're not that fast & would rather not meet or deal with us at all. Please consider educating
them further...these creatures have all they can do to survive in the world we're making...their space is disappearing, but we NEED the balance of nature...we need all
these creatures in the ecosystem. It matters.

[Bogertophis]

BTW, looks like they're suffering from the drought there? Hope they get some rain soon.

[Neal]

Hard to say what it is being it's not a good photo. You'd have to take a closeup of the head to get a positive ID. Too many people kill snakes and don't actually know what they're killing. I got into a altercation with a guy in my subdivision who tried to run over a rat snake crossing the road. It nearly didn't end well for him if he would of succeeded.