How do I identify a water moccasin in Florida?

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 baby water moccasin look like in Florida?

Neonatal cottonmouths are lighter in color, usually tan to brown while fully mature adults are almost black. The baby cottonmouth pattern is strong and distinctive with around 10 to 15 reddish-brown bands across their back. Another distinguishing feature of young water moccasins is their bright yellow tail tip.

Are there water moccasins in Florida?

Florida Cottonmouths can potentially be found in or near any wetlands or waterway in the state, including springs, rivers, lakes, ponds, saltmarshes, swamps, sloughs, reservoirs, retention pools, canals, and roadside ditches. These snakes often wander far from water and have occasionally been found in bushes and trees.

Are Florida cottonmouth poisonous?

Officially known as a cottonmouth snake, the water moccasin is a venomous and aggressive water snake usually found in the swampy areas of lakes, canals, and rivers. Their venom is extremely toxic and can kill its recipient by causing a hemorrhage where the poison is injected.

Why do water moccasins chase you?

Perhaps the snake with the reputation for being the most aggressive is, of course, the Cottonmouth. Legend has it that when they’re not falling into your boat, they are chasing you around the beach, eager to teach you a lesson for wandering into their territory.

What color belly does a water moccasin have?

The belly typically has dark and brownish-yellow blotches with the underside of the tail being black. As pit-vipers they have facial pits that sense heat and are used to detect prey and predators.

Can a water moccasin bite you underwater?

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.

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.

What does a cottonmouth bite feel like?

Symptoms of a cottonmouth bite usually appear from minutes to hours after a bite and can include: Severe, immediate pain with rapid swelling. Discoloration of the skin. Difficult or rapid breathing.

What type of snake will chase you?

Some species of snakes will actively “chase” human beings, such as the Central American bushmaster (Lachesis muta muta). An enormous and lethally venomous serpent, the bushmaster is well-known for this behavior.

Can you smell a water moccasin?

In some places, especially around woodland ponds, you can find western cottonmouths every few yards. Sometimes, you can smell their musky odor in the air. Heat sensors on either side of the snake’s face detect heat and help the cottonmouth to find food.

What does water moccasin look like?

The water moccasin has a brownish color , but this will also go darker as they age more. They are known for their thick bodies and shorter tails compared to the slender water snake. Their heads are also much larger than the normal water snake and they have a diamond-like shape that almost seems like a large block.

What do baby water moccasins look like?

The Florida Cottonmouth is a close relative of the copperhead , this snake is also known as the water moccasin. When first born, the babies look nothing like the parents. They have a wavy banded pattern in bright orange and brown, with a sulphur-yellow tail tip.

Do water moccasins swim underwater?

Although the water moccasin, or cottonmouth snake , prefers to lounge on logs or tree limbs at water’s edge, it has been known to capture its food while swimming underwater. By the way, rattlesnakes have the ability to swim and bite underwater as well.

Are Florida water moccasins poisonous?