Thread: MrDux and Whiskers ir anybody else from the LBL area

I enlarge the picture. Can see his head poking out underneath. Can't see the stripes but it looks triangular and boxy to me. In French we call it a Congo (kungo) accent on the u. Don't want to get bit by him!

I enlarged the picture of the snake on the log. His head is just sticking out from under the body. Can't see the stripe markings but the head looks triangular and boxy with sharp lines. Water Mocassin,Cottonmouth. We call them Congos in French. (Kun Go) accent on the first syllable. We have lots of them down here. When the hurricane storm surge comes and floods the marshes and swamps they stack up on edge of the swamp. There aren't in a good mood and will stand their ground. I have seen them strike at the airboat and that thing sounds like an airplane on the ground. I usually don't kill them unless they are around the camp. Don't want the kids in too much danger.

Killed in front of my house near Kentucky lake last weekend.

Rich, it's definitely a copperhead.
Now, if you had done the right thing, you would have caught it and moved it to a safer area away from harm. (Folks hate it when I do that with cottonmouths around my shop.)

Most of the actual bites come from reaching in,stepping over,or actually messing with the snake. Just be careful where you reach and step. It's not the Congo or the Australian outback. Lot of men who have spent a good part of their lives in the outdoors like loggers,coon hunters,etc. have had lots of encounters but never been bit. Just give it its due respect and keep your wits about you. You will see 30 water snakes of different kinds for every cottonmouth you see. Several of the water snake species are very difficult to distinguish from a cottonmouth. Cottonmouths themselves vary in the exact coloration and markings.

I have had snakes crawl in the boat. On my low free board bass boat I have had several crawl in around the motor.One was in Bear creek and one in Pisgah bay. The old lady don't like that.

Never step over a log in the woods ...

Always step in top of it and walk down its length ...

Or walk completely around the log's end ...

Rickie

Rattle headed copper mocassin.

That is a dandy Cottonmouth tractorjockey. Like a lot of folks on this forum I've lives in W.KY. all my life. I live about a mile and half from the Tennessee river and my Grandparents had a farm on the river. I see less Copperheads and Cottonmouth's now than I did when I was a kid. I don't kill them unless they are around the house. Over the years I've seen several Cottonmouths on/around the lakes but I don't ever recall seeing a Copperhead around the lakes. The bottom line is, if you don't know what it is leave it alone.

Many Banded Water snakes have died because someone thought they were copperheads.