Cottonmouth Snakes!?

[carnivalday]

Snakes in general arent aggressive, they are defensive. They want nothing more than to get away from you....can you imagine what you look like to them? If you get in their space, and they think you are threatening, they will get in a defensive posture. Can you blame them?

[2mares]

Originally Posted by drinkthekoolaid

There are water snake species that can look very similar to cotton mouths. They also share the same habitat... Near water....

The easiest surest way is to compare their faces. look for heat pits on side of nose and vertical diamond (cat eye) pupils. That is indicating a cottonmouth. Harmless Water snakes have round pupils and no heat pits on side of nose.

Cottonmouths if you compare side by side are much more stocky/stout. But if you only see 1 you could get them confused. So focus on the head and eyes. Focus on this not trying to determine their pattern or markings.

And cottonmouths sometimes but not always hiss and show their white mouth and you might even see their fangs if that happens.

Water snakes behavior is hit and miss sometimes they can be a little territorial but most times they just want to be left alone and escape while cottonmouths will stand their ground.

Compare their faces side by side. LOL.
Here is what I do. See snake, give it space to exit the vicinity. It goes one way, I go the other way.