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I was just looking up cottonmouth snakes and it seems they're all over down there? Should I be very aware of my surroundings down there? We're buying a place in Lyon County next to Barkley, just how bad is the poisonous snake situation down there?
I've got two dogs and a five year old, do I need a gun?? I'm a little scared after seeing this study someone did over in Benton that caught hundreds of big moccasins.
Everyone should have a gun, snake or no snake. :biggrin I would be more worried about the Copperheads an Rattlesnakes if it were me. Those Copperheads have a bad attitude! They'll stand their groundQuote:
Originally Posted by redearhoosier
Now they tell you all the good stuff after you buy a place at the lake. I hike some in the LBL and I mostly see timber rattlers on the ridges . The cottonmouths are very common around the water in the LBL. Haven't seen that many copperheads. Watch out when the lakes get big. Everything moves to higher ground. There are ways to reduce snake habitat by just keeping stuff off the ground. Snakes like to hide. We use to hunt them when I was a young feller and we looked under anything on the ground . Came across a 5 foot timber rattler coming out of Pisgah Bay one day last year that was going across the road. Would not move until I backed the truck up. Thought about capturing it but I was by myself and if I got bit it would be real bad! Let her go! It is against the law to carry or release a firearm in the LBL unless it is during the act of taking a particular species during specific hunting times. I have been asked more than once if I was carrying a firearm. Federal property!!!!
My studio in Benton is right next to the Clarks River National Wildlife Refuge, less than 1/2 mile from where those Murray State studies were done and filmed.. CRNWR has some of the best cottonmouth habitat in the nation. I cross paths with them quite often. My dogs had at least 2 close calls with them last year that I witnessed. The snakes were just doing what snakes are want to do and the dogs just happened to decide to share the same space at the same time. Neither one was bit even though I saw one snake strike twice. In both cases the dog was fine and the snake was allowed to go on its way.
You will find snakes anywhere in west KY if you go looking for them. They will avoid contact with you as much as possible. Like Buddy said, if you keep their preferred cover away from your home, you will lessen the chances of a confrontation. I have found the cottonmouth to be much less threatening than say copperheads. There are all kinds of stories of snakes trying to get into boats and even chasing folks. I have never personally seen any of that. Some of the most aggressive snakes in our area are the big water snakes. They are colored up much like copperheads and can be VERY large. They are the ones you are likely to see in the rip-rap or weedy areas around the lakes. They look nasty and may even swim out to your boat but they are not poisonous or harmful. They are curious and territorial. Just move on and they pose no threat.
I would just teach my family and pets to avoid the spots that the snakes prefer to live. They were here much earlier than we were. I've caught and moved several cottonmouths away from my studio. My neighbors think that is crazy but I see no need in killing them just because we choose to share THEIR territory with THEM.
Sounds like a common sense approach works best. We've got the coppers, rattlers up here but the cottonmouth scares me for sure. I believe the big timber rattler would be the toughest to deal with between the three. I know they've been on the loose up in Brown County Ind killing a few pets just feet off the trails, bad situation up there.
I've been thinking about getting a gun permit lately but I've always been fearful of pistols...sounds weak I know. This coming from somebody whose daddy has one awesome collection of double barrel shotguns...Parkers etc. Dad's also got a Nazi 9mm pistol taken from a german officer in second ww. That would due the trick but noway I'm taking that gun out to blast snakes, lol.
Just walk where you're walking around the lake and you should be fine. I've seen some enormous cottonmouths on the banks and in the trees. They tend to get a bit territorial if you get around their den areas.
Here is a snake that we came across at a pond near the elk and bison range while geocaching last spring.
Attachment 155754Attachment 155755
What is this snake?? Fat sucker ain't he.
From the body shape it appears to be a cottonmouth. Wish I could see the head as they have a distinct stripe pattern thru their eyes and side of the head.
Sorry, I didn't get a picture of his head. I was pretty far away but that was close enough!!! It's definitely the biggest snake I had ever seen in the wild!
Smart man. Lots of folks would have said "Hey Bubba, hold my beer and watch this"! That's how folks get bit then blame the snake for being a snake.
Many folks have never seen a cottonmouth in its true colors, after they shed. They have a very distinct pattern that is normally not seen.
Here is the watersnake I mentioned in my 1st post.
http://www2.ca.uky.edu/forestryexten...thern-midland/
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.
Attachment 240800
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.
I carry a gun but not for the snakes that crawl on their bellies.