Four of these six venomous species commonly occur in the Lake Martin area and around much of the state, including timber rattlesnakes, pigmy rattlesnakes, copperheads and cottonmouths.It is important to learn to properly identify them, as these non-venomous snakes are quite beneficial.
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Do water moccasins live in Alabama?
DISTRIBUTION: Agkistrodon piscivorus is found in the southeastern states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and east Texas. There are three subspecies: the eastern, Florida, and western cottonmouths.
Do water moccasins swim in lakes?
Water Moccasin
Water moccasins, or cottonmouth snakes, are usually found in streams, marshes, swamps and the shores of ponds and lakes. They are strong swimmers and have been known to swim in the ocean.
Are there snakes in lakes in Alabama?
Midland Water Snake
A conspicuous inhabitant of ponds, lakes, and streams, and the most frequently encountered water snake in the northern two-thirds of Alabama. The Midland Snake is a heavy bodied aquatic snake which can be commonly confused with the venomous Cottonmouth/Water Moccasin.
What kind of water snakes are in Alabama?
The brown water snake is native to the Coastal Plain and some of the Piedmont of the southeastern United States. It can be found as far north as Virginia, south through all of Florida, and west to extreme southeastern Alabama.
What does an Alabama water moccasin look like?
Most individuals are dark gray to black with a broad head, heat-sensing pits between the eyes and nostrils, elliptical pupils, and a blunt snout. Some individuals have a brown, gray, tan, or blackish coloration. Also commonly called Water Moccasins, Black Moccasins, or Gapers.
Will a cottonmouth chase you?
If you see a cottonmouth in the wild, be calm and realize that you are much larger than it, and it perceives you as a potential predator that has invaded its space. Cottonmouths are not out to get you, are not aggressive, will not chase you, and ultimately would like to be left alone.
Do water moccasins go to middle of the lake?
Yes they do. Actually, they can swim up an entire lake, and cross over and into land within minutes. Water moccasins, or cottonmouth snakes, are usually found in streams, marshes, swamps and the shores of ponds and lakes.
What is the difference between a cottonmouth and a water moccasin?
Water moccasins have vertical, “cat-eye” pupils, and dark stripes extend out near each nostril. The snout is pale in comparison with the rest of the head. Cottonmouth snakes have triangular heads, thin necks, and “cat-eye” pupils.
Does Lake Martin have alligators?
Lake Martin is also home to a substantial nesting population of alligators, which can typically be spotted from Rookery Road, which runs right along the edge of the lake.
How do you identify a water moccasin?
The quick and easy way to identify a water moccasin is to look for its wedge-shaped, blocky head (from above, as in a boat, you can’t see its eyes), check for the heat-sensing slits beneath and between its eyes and nose, and note its olive, dark tan, dark brown or an almost black body, thick and python-like in its
Do copperheads swim?
But copperheads, like northern water snakes, swim and can be found near water across the region. So, if a snake is not easily identifiable as a non-venomous water snake, it is best to beware. Northern water snakes can grow up to three feet long, and females are larger than males.
What water snake looks like a copperhead?
common watersnakes
At first glance, common watersnakes (Nerodia sipedon) look like they have a similar pattern to copperheads, but look closer. The Hershey Kisses are upside down. These shapes look more like saddles. As you might expect from their name, watersnakes spend a lot of their time in the water; copperheads rarely do.
What color is a water snake?
Water snake characteristics
The markings and coloration of water snakes vary somewhat from species to species, but for the most part they are brown, gray, olive green or reddish with dark splotches or bands on their backs. Sometimes they look solid brown or black when wet.
Does Alabama have copperheads?
Copperheads are the most frequently encountered snake in Alabama. Their mating season runs from late spring into summer, and that means you’re more likely to see a copperhead outdoors over the next few months. Two of the five subspecies of copperheads can be found in the Yellowhammer state.
What’s the difference between a water snake and a water moccasin?
Water Snakes, like this Northern Water Snake, have bands that are widest on top, whereas Water Moccasins have bands that are widest on the sides. A Northern Water Snake in a threat posture, with the head flared. A juvenile Water Moccasin swimming.
How bad is a water moccasin bite?
Venom / Bite
The cottonmouth has a powerful cytotoxic venom that destroys tissue and is considered more toxic than that of the Copperhead. The bite symptoms commonly include severe pain, swelling, ecchymosis, and even though deaths are rare, the cottonmouth bite could leave scars and on occasion lead to amputation.
Do cottonmouth snakes swim underwater?
He notes that cottonmouth snakes, which are venomous and dangerous to humans, are also capable of doing this, despite often swimming underwater ( rb.gy/kics5e ).
How many people have died from water moccasins?
The University of Florida stated that 7,000 to 8,000 people are bitten by venomous snakes in the U.S. each year, but only about five to six people die from their bites. Cottonmouths have accounted for less than 1% of all snakebite deaths in the U.S., according to TPWD.
What to do if a snake is chasing you?
If you do happen to encounter a snake, follow these steps.
- Stay Calm. The chances are that the snake saw you before you saw it – and it wants nothing to do with you. If it hasn’t retreated, it will lay still or release a warning sound.
- Move away from the snake. We repeat, move away from the snake.
Can a water moccasin bite you in the water?
Besides sea-snakes, there are two common snakes that can live in or near water – the cottonmouth (water moccasin) and the water snake. Not only can snakes bite underwater, but water moccasins join a list of more than 20 species of venomous snakes in the United States making them even more of a threat.
