HOW TO ACCURATELY IDENTIFY A WATER MOCCASIN

The accurate identification of venomous species of snakes can be important!

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Do you see that snake biting me in the hand in the cover photo? That is a nonvenomous Northern Water Snake. Since they live in and near water, they are often misidentified as Water Moccasins and needlessly killed. In this video, I first familiarize you with the Northern Water Snake as an example of a nonvenomous snake that is common to see near the water and then show you the differences that the venomous pit viper known as the Water Moccasin or Cottonmouth has.

A FEW DIFFERENCES

Water Moccasins are a particular kind of venomous snake in the pit viper family. In the United States, pit vipers include that Water Moccasin (AKA Cottonmouth), the Copperhead, and Rattlesnakes. With these pit vipers, you will find some common characteristics.

In this close up photo of the Water Moccasin, you can see that it has an elongated pupil. If a snake has round pupils, that does not mean it is nonvenomous. The Coral Snake is a venomous snake in the United States that has round pupils. Having round pupils for snakes in the United States just means that they are not pit vipers. Rattlesnakes, Copperheads and Water Moccasins will all have the elongated pupils.

Additionally, pit vipers like this Cottonmouth will have heat pits. Heat pits can be noticed because there are small holes between the eyes and the nostrils of pit vipers. With these sensitive organs, put vipers can sense heat, which can help them locate warmblooded mammals to prey upon.

The fangs are also a good giveaway that a snake is venomous, but not all venomous will have visible fangs or display them. Though Water Moccasins will open their mouths as a defense mechanism, they will not always display their fangs. The large, gaping white mouth is a good sign that the snake is a Cottonmouth, and it is where the Water Moccasin gets its nickname from.

In the video, I also show how the belly pattern is different, and the difference in belly scales. The opening in the belly scales where snakes defecate and reproduce from is called a vent. Many snakes will have single belly scales before the vent and double belly scales after the vent. Double belly scales means that there are two scales, one coming form each side, which meet int he middle. Pit vipers, like the Moccasin, continue to have single belly scales after the vent.

Yes, I know that many people will never grab a snake by the tail when it is in the bushes and peek underneath to see what kind of scales it has after the vent, but I certainly have.

It is worth mentioning that even bites from nonvenomous snakes can be dangerous and the wounds could become infected, but for the most part, there are only two ways to get but by any snake.

The first way is by accident. This can and does happen, and when it does occur it is often when a human comes close to a snake without knowing that it is there. The snake sees the human as a threat and strikes in defense.

The second way that most people end up getting bit is when they are trying to kill or capture them. The safest way to reduce your risk of being bit by a snake is to not try to kill or handle them. It is unfortunate that many people have an unrealistic fear of snakes and think that snakes are going to attack people. Then, when they see a snake, they attack it try to prevent it from hurting anyone and get bit in the process. When this happens, they claim, "See I told you it was dangerous."

Though there are some snakes in the world that will follow or come at a person, this is rarely the case with many species. With the varieties I have dealt with, I have never once been chased by a snake. The hundreds of snakes that I have caught were always ones that I had to chase. It would be easier if they would just chase me.

Anyway, as with any wild animals, their place is in the wild, and if we know how to accurately identify them, it can help keep us, and them, safe. I hope that you enjoyed the video!

COPPERHEAD HOW TO TOO!

If you enjoyed this video, you may also be interested in my How to Accurately Identify a Copperhead Snake video from four months ago. Since they are both pit vipers, some of the info is similar, but it is another venomous snake that lives where many of us live, so it may be a good idea to know how to accurately identify one. Enjoy!

As always, I'm @papa-pepper and here's the proof:

proof-of-water-moccasin

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Until next time…

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