Mississippi does have six types of venomous snakes: copperhead, coral snake, pygmy rattlesnake, eastern diamondback rattlesnake, canebrake or timber rattlesnake, and cottonmouth or water moccasin.
Contents
Do water moccasins live in Mississippi?
The cottonmouth or water moccasin is a poisonous viper found in Mississippi and other parts of the Southeastern United States. We approached the snake with a snake hook, but did not touch or aggravate the snake.
Are there water snakes in Mississippi?
The Mississippi Green Watersnake is found in Mississippi in or near calm, slow-moving bodies of water. Habitats include cypress swamps, sloughs, streams, lakes, ponds, and flooded woodlands. Look for them on branches above the water, where they’re often spotted basking in the sun.
Are Mississippi water snakes poisonous?
Mississippi Green Watersnake. Photo courtesy of Eric B. Southern Watersnake (Nerodia fasciata) Non-venomous Southern Watersnakes have broad black, brown, or red crossbands (often bordered with black) down the back and a dark stripe that extends from the eye to the angle of the jaw.
What’s the most poisonous snake in Mississippi?
The venomous copperhead snake is one of the most common species in Mississippi, but the freak of nature found recently by a Madison woman at her home is anything but common.
What does a Mississippi water moccasin look like?
Populations of Cottonmouth Snakes live in most of Mississippi’s waterways, swamps and creeks. They are also medium sized snakes, stocky by nature. At issue is that their blotchy skin also makes them look very similar to the watersnakes.The mouth looks white, explaining the snake’s nickname.
What is the biggest snake in Mississippi?
The eastern indigo is North America’s biggest indigenous snake, growing to 9 feet, and it is found only in coastal Georgia, Florida, Alabama and Mississippi, experts say.
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
What does a water moccasin?
1 : a venomous semiaquatic pit viper (Agkistrodon piscivorus) chiefly of the southeastern U.S. that is closely related to the copperhead. — called also cottonmouth, cottonmouth moccasin. 2 : a harmless American colubrid water snake (genus Nerodia) resembling the true water moccasin.
Are pythons in Mississippi?
Vandeventer said despite some concern that a wild Burmese Python population could exist here in South Mississippi, we’re simply far too north. He cites a study that helped prove the spread of the wild Burmese Python population was halted by the cooler climate away from the southern tip of Florida.
What type of poisonous snakes are in Mississippi?
In Mississippi, the pit viper group includes the copperhead, pigmy rattlesnake, eastern diamondback rattlesnake, timber or canebrake rattlesnake, and cottonmouth or water moccasin. The sixth type of venomous snake in the state, the eastern coral snake, is not a pit viper.
What snakes are protected in Mississippi?
The black pine, eastern indigo, rainbow and southern hognose snakes are listed as endangered in Mississippi and receive special protection.
What snakes in Mississippi lay eggs?
Coral snakes are the only venomous snakes in Mississippi that lay eggs. Other species, like rattlesnakes and copperheads, are ovoviviparous, which means they give birth to live young!
What’s the difference between a copperhead and a cottonmouth?
Cottonmouth snakes are generally considered to have more potent venom. Copperheads are considered less venomous and there is some controversy as to whether or not bites from copperhead snakes need to be treated with antivenom. Copperhead and juvenile cottonmouth snakes are both brown in color.
Will Copperheads chase people?
A copperhead will not “hunt” a human, but it will strike if it feels cornered or threatened. Most copperhead bites occur when someone tries to catch a copperhead or steps unsuspectingly onto one. A person bitten by a copperhead should seek immediate treatment at the nearest hospital emergency room.
Are there coral snakes in MS?
Coral snakes inhabit sandy pinewoods in the southeastern counties of Mississippi. They are secretive and generally uncommon, even rare.
Why do water moccasins chase you?
Despite these examples of relatively benign defensive behaviors, cottonmouths maintain a reputation of being ‘aggressive’ or ‘mean’. Many people will tell you of cottonmouths ‘chasing’ people that get to close, implying that the goal of this behavior is ultimately to bite people.
What is the difference between a water moccasin and a cottonmouth?
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.
What is 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.
Are copperhead snakes poisonous?
Although all three species of copperhead should be considered potentially dangerous, these snakes are reluctant to bite without extreme provocation and human bite accidents have been rare.Venom: The venom of all three species of copperhead is neurotoxic and contains both post- and pre-synaptic neurotoxins.
Where do huge snakes live?
They usually reside in tropical rain forests, where they generally spend time near water sources, such as ponds, streams or small rivers. They can be found in other parts of the world, but only in captivity.
