@@chadatkins9053 Growing up here in the south, I was constantly told that they would chase you and were very aggressive. I love videos like these proving it was false info. I've learned to love these watersnakes.
Cottonmouths are such funny snakes. chubby angry danger noodle. extra thicc noodle. I also love the loggerheads. Their face is just too much. I have to say the non herp wildlife in this one was outstanding. The otter sighting was something else! crazy! The butterflies, damselfly and caterpillar were really cool too. Glad you included them.
On of my favorite quotes from My Octopus Teacher is, "Those who spend time in nature are the most gentle." Sir, we can tell you spend a lot of time in nature.
We watched 6 river otters playing along our snowy riverbank. It was like something out of National Geographic. The same river here in WA has lots of northern pacific rattlesnakes.
I think the cottonmouth smell is totally a thing. Its like how when you start to know what deer or elk smell like when they've moved through an area. I don't think its crazy to think that you could smell some residual scent in an area where they hang out. Especially if its a unique scent that you've become familiar with.
Roaches have a smell, too. It's horrible. I unfortunately know. I used to be a Pest Control Technician. It's a pharamone they put off. I have no trouble believing a Cottonmouth has a smell of its own.
Cottonmouths have three defensive behaviors they will open their mouth wide open exposing the white interior, vibrate their tails and emit a foul smelly musk when trying to escape from being captured or killed by any predators or persons who are near them.
There’s a family story involving my Chickasaw great grandmother who once chased a cougar off her dugout in Oklahoma with a broom. She was fishing with my grandfather in Texas. He who looked up to see a large cottonmouth above her. He told they needed to move and she responded “nope, I’ve gotta bite!”
Today on my way home from work in Northeast Georgia I had to help a Snapping Turtle across the road. That little jerk was about a foot and a half from the front to back of his shell, and boy was he feisty. I had to nudge him with my umbrella, because every time I got near the back of his shell he would lunge at me.
I've really come to appreciate cottonmouths on the last year or so. I love how they float on the water, their triangular crest on their back and the flat top of their head that drops down in an almost 90 degree angle. A very American snake.
Great video - as ever - the no-legged herp's are always great, but so are the more than zero-legged, and the non-herp's, mammalian or otherwise. It is just so cool to see wildlife local to you, of any kind, that you happen across.
Awesome video no matter what you find Noah! I am always thrilled when I see that you have posted! To me it doesn’t matter what you see, it’s always a nice walk in the creek or hike on a path! I hope your trip goes a bit better than Chandler’s…..but he had a wonderful time in India, and it was a dream come true to capture and relocate snakes out there. Have a wonderful trip and be as safe as possible (I know you will). 😄💙🐬🐊🐍🫶🏼
Love the iridescence on the bigger musk turtle shell...and I've only ever seen wild otters once when I was very young, high in the mountains on the Yampa River here in Colorado, a brief sighting of a family. Also the interaction with the caterpillar at the end felt a lot like the interactions I have with young gopher and kingsnakes, they prefer climbing back onto me rather than leaving into the brush for some reason.
Not anger, fear and defense. All snakes in the US are also prey. Gorgeous snakes and turtles…love the snappers! Beavers have returned to the river in a park across from in DE. I keep hoping for otters. Thanks for posting.
Three weeks to blast off! Hope you do some grooming! Woo Hoo! I lived in Atlanta 50 yrs. But I guess in Newnan, it’s not really important??? Such a cute guy, it’s a shame you don’t see it!
I was weedeating around my pond years ago and a water moccasin was there so I threw a rock at it. Didn't want to do that but I'm severely scared of snakes. Well that just pissed it off because this thing stalked me the whole time I was down there. I still believe he is still there waiting for me. Lol
@@fly_speck_cafe OMG I can't believe you brought that up! Haha hell yeah I do. That is one of the best series I've ever watched. Yeay he was scared of the water and Newt is like come on now it's not that bad. Oh yes it was!
great vid… and man…. you brought back a bad memory for me i hadn’t thought about in many many years…. i was going through a corn field in indiana when i was about 12…. and the corn was infested with saddlebacks…. i got stung a ton of times as i was running out breaking through the stalks in full panic mode…and can attest that their stings are very painful….😢
Luvn the creek walking videos!! Doin any West Texas cut shining this year?? And when we gonna hear a destination for the international trip?? I'm still guessing Thailand with Rupert!! 🤞🤞
GREAT videos...your commentary, passion and delivery are all awesome. I just moved down from Michigan to Charlotte, NC. Do you know of any areas for me to check out in my neck of the woods?
Nice Country look's like some places here but in the near of the Neatherlands we have no Snakes at all. Flatland , maby some Ringelnattern or black watersnakes but 100% no vennemouse snakes at all. We only have one vennemouse snake in Alps of Germany, it is the Kreuzotter cross adder and they want to put out in a Programm the Horn adder back in nature but from both you would not dieing maby a bit 😅. There are no deadlist Animals in the middle of Europe at all "as Austin Stevens said so nice 20 times in 1 Show" Maby in the east Croatia Greece you find some but Germany "No". Stay safe !
As a guy who runs on a cement trail in deep woods, I've seen about 10 snakes over the years. Are they "warming up" or just crossing? I've almost stepped over them a number of times. Brown water snakes are nearly impossible to see on a trail post storm with leaves and sticks on the trail.
I'm from the southeast. Lived here all my life and I'm wondering how the heck you mistake a cottonmouth for a copperhead? 🤔 And yes cottonmouths definitely have a smell.
I’m from Chickamauga Walker Co. in north Georgia, you ever want a good video on painted turtles I can hook you up. My son and I caught 56 in 3 and a half hours lol
So i have a question please. We live south of Birmingham. We are outdoors alot and horseback ride this area, as well as North Al. Where are you when you say in North Al? Most if the streams we cross are rock bottom, clear and swift running. Just wondering.
@brendamoore447 Cottonmouths are normally found in the Southeastern quarter of the United States in the Coastal plains long leaf pine forest Swamps, young pinelands ,tributaries, rivers and pocosins. They rarely bite humans only if you step on or handle them will they bite. Cottonmouths are responsible for less than 1% of fatal snake bites.
@NKFherping Just curious to know, how far north in the ATL metro area would you say you have actually seen Cottonmouths? Alpharetta? North end of Lanier? South side of ATL? My buddy thinks the water is too cold inside the perimeter for them to be hanging out, I'm arguing with him that probably isn't feasible till ya get up into Dahlonega and north of there.
There likely isn’t anywhere within the perimeter with enough intact habitat to support Cottonmouths. Outside the perimeter, they’re mostly found in the southern and western suburbs. But they do exist in the montane regions of northwest Georgia outside the Atlanta metro, so cold water probably isn’t the limiting factor. Honestly, I don’t think anyone knows why they’re distributed how they are. They’re strange snakes.
@@NKFherping Thanks man. The cold water was his 'theory' which I hadn't ever really thought about. So, since they are cold blooded, it made sense at the time. Even though we have high heat and somewhat high humidity (ours isn't anything like LA, AR, E. TX) at times the water (see the hooch) can be pretty cold, relatively speaking coming out of the lake. Growing up in the south, cottonmouths and copperheads were pretty common. Copperheads in the metro are pretty prevalent and I don't want to get nailed by one (stealthy little bas***).
You are not crazy! Snakes have a smell. My cousin from West Virginia (he's part Indian) can smell a snake before he even lay's on it. Well after I saw the shoes you are wearing, I must reavluate the crazy accusation (LOL! Joking.) I personally would wear knee-high jack-boot's made of bullet resistant kevlar if I was out there! A snake can easily reach you're ankles. Fact's!
You have to watch out for those milk snakes. Once me and my girl were skinny dipping , she said something was on her. When she got out the water there was milk snakes all over her tryna get to her ta ta's. And get this, she wasn't even preggo.
I think it’s time to let your loyal subscribers know where you going and with who???? We are all going to watch whether we know or not. It would be the mature thing to do. We are adults and don’t need games……do we?????
If it hasn’t happened to myself or any other herper/herpetologist yet, it isn’t going to. There’s a reason we have video proof of so many incredibly rare things since the invention of the smartphones everyone carries now, yet there still isn’t a video of a Cottonmouth chasing someone.
@@NKFherping I know two people with impeccable records of honesty who say they were chased for a short distance. I believe them over a herpetologist I’ve never met. The question I have is … are there any possible scenarios whereby a cottonmouth would react aggressively without being harassed? Disease perhaps?
Many people truly do believe they were chased by a Cottonmouth. Your mistake is trusting someone that doesn’t necessarily know how to identify snakes or understand snake behavior over the many herpetologists that do so for a living. The vast majority of people who claim to have been chased by a Cottonmouth couldn’t even tell you the difference between a Cottonmouth and a Watersnake. Watersnakes are much more flighty, and likely to jump off of branches into boats while trying to flee into the water below. This is what many people claim is “chasing”, and the snakes doing it most often aren’t even Cottonmouths. Cottonmouths can also be quick to flee, and if you stand between them and the water they will come in your direction quickly. But you’re not being chased, the snake is just trying to reach the safety of the water where it can move more quickly and escape. I have this happen semi-regularly, and while I wouldn’t recommend anyone else let them do it, Cottonmouths will quite literally crawl right over your foot to get where they want to go without attempting to bite. Regardless, they don’t pose any real threat of chasing you down and inflicting a bite. Bites occur when people are trying to catch or kill them, and occasionally when they’re accidentally stepped on or grabbed by people not paying attention. And for diseases, there are no known pathogens that would cause heightened aggressiveness (like rabies) in snakes.
@@NKFherping Thanks for the reply. You are assuming that the two gentlemen, one in Louisiana and one in East Texas are 1) incapable of identifying a cottonmouth or 2) are unsafe around them. Well, I made sure to get the facts on those two points before venturing to ask my question here. The truth is they live and make a living in the bayous and rivers, and they can tell the difference between all the local snakes and wildlife. Of all the people I’ve heard claim an “attack” by a cottonmouth, these two are absolutely honest about their incidents. Plus these two men would never risk getting close to a venomous snake. They have seen many accidental bites from careless people and those trying to show off. Anyway, both of them say that the incidents were uncharacteristic of cottonmouths’ usual mellow behavior. I’m old enough to remember when the weather “experts” were adamant in their belief that there was no such thing as ball lightning. In all the years, and countless specialists, it had never been caught on tape, or the videos were called fake. Then things changed. Someone finally stopped calling the witnesses hacks and took the matter seriously.
@dartmart9263 I wasn’t referring to your friends specifically, just generalizing based on the majority of people I’ve talked to who claim to have been “chased”. I don’t know them, but I also don’t personally know a single person who claims to have been chased by a Cottonmouth that can actually identify them. And I’m from Georgia, so where they live doesn’t mean much to me. You could pick any 5 dudes from my neck of the woods too, and maybe one of them could identify all the local venomous snakes. I also never claimed they were being dishonest. Just that they may not necessarily be interpreting what actually happened correctly. If they never risk getting anywhere close to a venomous snake, they’ve likely never had an opportunity to observe and learn from their behavior over an extended period of time like myself and other herpers/herpetologists have. Anyone who has been incorrectly taught that Cottonmouths will chase people growing up is going to see a snake moving slightly fast in their general direction and naturally just assume they’re being chased. That doesn’t make them a liar, but it also doesn’t mean their word carries the same weight as the entire scientific/herpetological community. Like I said earlier, everyone has a smart phone in their pocket, and every other person from the south has been “chased by a cottonmouth”. So why isn’t there a single video of it happening?
Nice wild corn, loggerheads and cottonmouths, especially the third one. Those raccoons and otters are probably reducing the snake and turtle population. They probably killed the turtle too. Someone must regulate them.
“His own little island of anger” 😂
As someone that lives in North Georgia - seeing river otters is like seeing a unicorn- that was awesome
I see them fairly often, but never this close or in a creek this small. Usually at a distance in a larger river like the Chattahoochee.
Otters have recently returned to the James here in the Ozarks.
I love Cottonmouths. So full of rage. "Stop looking at me, Reeeee!"
I agree they are my favorite kind of snake. They have a bad rep but they are gorgeous I think
@@chadatkins9053 Growing up here in the south, I was constantly told that they would chase you and were very aggressive. I love videos like these proving it was false info. I've learned to love these watersnakes.
"Island of anger" 😂
Random, but I cruised my lifer scarlet snake this week!
Me too! lol
Lets gooooooo, Team scarlet snake all the way!@@lucasgarriga7868
Cottonmouths are such funny snakes. chubby angry danger noodle. extra thicc noodle. I also love the loggerheads. Their face is just too much. I have to say the non herp wildlife in this one was outstanding. The otter sighting was something else! crazy! The butterflies, damselfly and caterpillar were really cool too. Glad you included them.
On of my favorite quotes from My Octopus Teacher is, "Those who spend time in nature are the most gentle." Sir, we can tell you spend a lot of time in nature.
@@user-xb4ev2oi8b Wasn't referring to cats.
3:37 What a beautiful area. Really looks undisturbed. Very clean and natural looking.
This is interesting, I never realized how FAST these snakes are.
Otters! What an awesome discovery.
You are definitely a good person. They way u respect nature is awesome. Mad respect for you my friend. Stay safe out there
We watched 6 river otters playing along our snowy riverbank. It was like something out of National Geographic. The same river here in WA has lots of northern pacific rattlesnakes.
I think the cottonmouth smell is totally a thing. Its like how when you start to know what deer or elk smell like when they've moved through an area. I don't think its crazy to think that you could smell some residual scent in an area where they hang out. Especially if its a unique scent that you've become familiar with.
Roaches have a smell, too. It's horrible. I unfortunately know. I used to be a Pest Control Technician. It's a pharamone they put off. I have no trouble believing a Cottonmouth has a smell of its own.
I swear snails have a smell. Like I thought it was just rain or wet dirt but I only smell it when snails are out.
Cottonmouths have three defensive behaviors they will open their mouth wide open exposing the white interior, vibrate their tails and emit a foul smelly musk when trying to escape from being captured or killed by any predators or persons who are near them.
There’s a family story involving my Chickasaw great grandmother who once chased a cougar off her dugout in Oklahoma with a broom. She was fishing with my grandfather in Texas. He who looked up to see a large cottonmouth above her. He told they needed to move and she responded “nope, I’ve gotta bite!”
The cottonmouth is just teasing you - musking, then hiding and watching you searching for it! 🐍
That was definitely a copperhead 😂😂😂 sorry couldn’t resist. ❤
Enjoy your videos and comments.
You should put a trail cam by those Otters it would be cool to get some footage of them
Today on my way home from work in Northeast Georgia I had to help a Snapping Turtle across the road. That little jerk was about a foot and a half from the front to back of his shell, and boy was he feisty. I had to nudge him with my umbrella, because every time I got near the back of his shell he would lunge at me.
NICE EXPLORATION !!!!!!!
Love me an ebony jewelwing, another great video! Looking forward to your trip, travel safe 👍
Love the little angry cottonmouth :D
Very cool video!
I've been stung by a Saddleback caterpillar before incredibly painful actually made me nauseous don't touch 😂😂
Been there, done that!
New subscriber! You videos are so informative they definitely got me pay way more attention fishing the creeks.
Nice Tuttle my guy
Love your videos. I love the sounds of the bugs. I find that relaxing. I am curious what a “Butt-holy Cow” is 😆
If you're ever in eastern NC herping I would enjoy tagging along.
I've really come to appreciate cottonmouths on the last year or so. I love how they float on the water, their triangular crest on their back and the flat top of their head that drops down in an almost 90 degree angle. A very American snake.
Great video - as ever - the no-legged herp's are always great, but so are the more than zero-legged, and the non-herp's, mammalian or otherwise. It is just so cool to see wildlife local to you, of any kind, that you happen across.
Nice herpin day! 👍
Beautiful Loggerhead. Thanks for your videos.
Awesome video no matter what you find Noah! I am always thrilled when I see that you have posted! To me it doesn’t matter what you see, it’s always a nice walk in the creek or hike on a path! I hope your trip goes a bit better than Chandler’s…..but he had a wonderful time in India, and it was a dream come true to capture and relocate snakes out there. Have a wonderful trip and be as safe as possible (I know you will). 😄💙🐬🐊🐍🫶🏼
Always love the snarky "Cottonmouth always chasing me" comments.
Nice vid and thanks for treating snakes with respect. We have king snakes black and white banded, and big gopher snakes that steal our chicken eggs.
I live on Amelia Island, and we have just black racers during the spring.
Love the iridescence on the bigger musk turtle shell...and I've only ever seen wild otters once when I was very young, high in the mountains on the Yampa River here in Colorado, a brief sighting of a family.
Also the interaction with the caterpillar at the end felt a lot like the interactions I have with young gopher and kingsnakes, they prefer climbing back onto me rather than leaving into the brush for some reason.
There are otters in a lot of streams, you just never see them.
Yep. I see their poop and tracks all the time.
i keep Nerodia Sipedon var. fasciata, water snakes are my favorite they have the boss mentality hehehhe
What an amazing video.
Not anger, fear and defense. All snakes in the US are also prey. Gorgeous snakes and turtles…love the snappers! Beavers have returned to the river in a park across from in DE. I keep hoping for otters. Thanks for posting.
Three weeks to blast off! Hope you do some grooming! Woo Hoo! I lived in Atlanta 50 yrs. But I guess in Newnan, it’s not really important??? Such a cute guy, it’s a shame you don’t see it!
I was weedeating around my pond years ago and a water moccasin was there so I threw a rock at it. Didn't want to do that but I'm severely scared of snakes. Well that just pissed it off because this thing stalked me the whole time I was down there. I still believe he is still there waiting for me. Lol
Remember the cottonmouths in Lonesome Dove? 😳
@@fly_speck_cafe OMG I can't believe you brought that up! Haha hell yeah I do. That is one of the best series I've ever watched. Yeay he was scared of the water and Newt is like come on now it's not that bad. Oh yes it was!
great vid… and man…. you brought back a bad memory for me i hadn’t thought about in many many years…. i was going through a corn field in indiana when i was about 12…. and the corn was infested with saddlebacks…. i got stung a ton of times as i was running out breaking through the stalks in full panic mode…and can attest that their stings are very painful….😢
I've only seen one otter here in North Georgia. I had pretty much the same reaction lol.
They move pretty fast
Great video
He’s got an affinity for herping so it’s totally believable he can smell the moccasins
Are river otters making a comeback?
Wow not one but two river otters. How cool is that?😃
"Island of anger" lol
Luvn the creek walking videos!! Doin any West Texas cut shining this year?? And when we gonna hear a destination for the international trip?? I'm still guessing Thailand with Rupert!! 🤞🤞
You tinkle on one of them things, you're in trouble, bo
GREAT videos...your commentary, passion and delivery are all awesome. I just moved down from Michigan to Charlotte, NC. Do you know of any areas for me to check out in my neck of the woods?
I missed what was sick about the otter.
Nice Country look's like some places here but in the near of the Neatherlands we have no Snakes at all. Flatland , maby some Ringelnattern or black watersnakes but 100% no vennemouse snakes at all. We only have one vennemouse snake in Alps of Germany, it is the Kreuzotter cross adder and they want to put out in a Programm the Horn adder back in nature but from both you would not dieing maby a bit 😅. There are no deadlist Animals in the middle of Europe at all "as Austin Stevens said so nice 20 times in 1 Show" Maby in the east Croatia Greece you find some but Germany "No". Stay safe !
I’ve been meaning to ask what your feelings are on some people who free hand venomous snakes. Without naming names.
Bruh, I enjoy tf out of all these. I'd enjoy just anoles and box turtles.
Noah, did that caterpillar sting you or not ? I guess you’d drop the key first ?!
As a guy who runs on a cement trail in deep woods, I've seen about 10 snakes over the years. Are they "warming up" or just crossing? I've almost stepped over them a number of times. Brown water snakes are nearly impossible to see on a trail post storm with leaves and sticks on the trail.
Most likely there warming up
Just curious where do you live? You have videos of Georgia, Louisiana, Japan, etc.
(4:28) You didn’t that snake in the branches above the creek?
I'm from the southeast. Lived here all my life and I'm wondering how the heck you mistake a cottonmouth for a copperhead? 🤔 And yes cottonmouths definitely have a smell.
So do copperheads.
Copperheads are also very gorgeous creatures I love their color patterns very unique
Turtle: 👁️ 👄 👁️
WOW! That is a BIG FAT snake! 😱😱😱😱😱😱 oh great. Another frog sacrificed! 😡
GRA 8 TUTORIAL !!!!
I’m from Chickamauga Walker Co. in north Georgia, you ever want a good video on painted turtles I can hook you up. My son and I caught 56 in 3 and a half hours lol
I was chased by a nest 🪹 of caterpillars 🐛 very poisonous and dangerous 😂
You are lucky to be alive! 😂👍✌️
Do cottonmouths always have that…uneven movement? Onland vs water?
1:50 - Nice gang stalking sunglasses
Sure you can smell them
Baby cottonmouths look like copperheads because of the fact that it is just their natural camouflage to keep safe from predators
Do those shoes absorb sweat and start to smell bad?
Where is this in N AL? I want to stay away!!
So i have a question please. We live south of Birmingham. We are outdoors alot and horseback ride this area, as well as North Al.
Where are you when you say in North Al?
Most if the streams we cross are rock bottom, clear and swift running.
Just wondering.
It's never a good idea for herpetologist to reveal Herping locations on the internet you can guess why. 🤔
Gotcha! I was just thinking about areas to AVOID when we trail ride and horse camp! Lol
@brendamoore447 Cottonmouths are normally found in the Southeastern quarter of the United States in the Coastal plains long leaf pine forest Swamps, young pinelands ,tributaries, rivers and pocosins. They rarely bite humans only if you step on or handle them will they bite. Cottonmouths are responsible for less than 1% of fatal snake bites.
Baby cottonmouths are why people think they see copperheads in Orlando?
They’re certainly seeing juvenile Cottonmouths.
Curious why you never pick up Garter snakes . Any reason why ?
Really, really bad musk usually. Although I do pick up almost every one I find off camera to move them off the road.
Have you ever walked into a nest
@NKFherping Just curious to know, how far north in the ATL metro area would you say you have actually seen Cottonmouths? Alpharetta? North end of Lanier? South side of ATL? My buddy thinks the water is too cold inside the perimeter for them to be hanging out, I'm arguing with him that probably isn't feasible till ya get up into Dahlonega and north of there.
There likely isn’t anywhere within the perimeter with enough intact habitat to support Cottonmouths. Outside the perimeter, they’re mostly found in the southern and western suburbs. But they do exist in the montane regions of northwest Georgia outside the Atlanta metro, so cold water probably isn’t the limiting factor. Honestly, I don’t think anyone knows why they’re distributed how they are. They’re strange snakes.
@@NKFherping Thanks man. The cold water was his 'theory' which I hadn't ever really thought about. So, since they are cold blooded, it made sense at the time. Even though we have high heat and somewhat high humidity (ours isn't anything like LA, AR, E. TX) at times the water (see the hooch) can be pretty cold, relatively speaking coming out of the lake. Growing up in the south, cottonmouths and copperheads were pretty common. Copperheads in the metro are pretty prevalent and I don't want to get nailed by one (stealthy little bas***).
Is that a snake I see hiding in the brush in the direction that you released that red bellied snake? 12:51 marker into the video.
Could you be more specific? I looked, but didn’t see anything……🙂
@@jenn1234 I would, but can’t see an option to attach a photo.
Thanks….I have looked and looked, but I don’t see it. I see things that might be snakes, but I guess I don’t know for sure. No biggie 😁@@jbernard911
You are not crazy! Snakes have a smell. My cousin from West Virginia (he's part Indian) can smell a snake before he even lay's on it. Well after I saw the shoes you are wearing, I must reavluate the crazy accusation (LOL! Joking.) I personally would wear knee-high jack-boot's made of bullet resistant kevlar if I was out there! A snake can easily reach you're ankles. Fact's!
Why not just wear hip waders?
Because they’re bulky and you can’t walk 6-10 miles in a day wearing them.
@NKFherping maybe in your heat down there yea lol. I've definitely worn them all day while stream fishing up here in NY
How could you get tired of cotton mouths
I certainly don’t!
@@NKFherping me either I love em
You have to watch out for those milk snakes. Once me and my girl were skinny dipping , she said something was on her. When she got out the water there was milk snakes all over her tryna get to her ta ta's. And get this, she wasn't even preggo.
How do you not get obliterated by bugs like ticks and mosquitoes and whatnot
I do.
Any alligators 🐊 in that area
Doubtful, but not impossible. They occur nearby in better habitat.
Do you have an email to be contacted at?
In order to get a cottonmouth to come at you, you need a BB gun
I think it’s time to let your loyal subscribers know where you going and with who???? We are all going to watch whether we know or not. It would be the mature thing to do. We are adults and don’t need games……do we?????
Cotton mouths have always gotten a bad rap and i have never had one chase me ive chased a bunch
Definitely otters.
So, if you ever do get chased by a water moccasin, can we trust you to post the video? Or would you try to keep the “myth” a myth?
If it hasn’t happened to myself or any other herper/herpetologist yet, it isn’t going to. There’s a reason we have video proof of so many incredibly rare things since the invention of the smartphones everyone carries now, yet there still isn’t a video of a Cottonmouth chasing someone.
@@NKFherping I know two people with impeccable records of honesty who say they were chased for a short distance. I believe them over a herpetologist I’ve never met.
The question I have is … are there any possible scenarios whereby a cottonmouth would react aggressively without being harassed? Disease perhaps?
Many people truly do believe they were chased by a Cottonmouth. Your mistake is trusting someone that doesn’t necessarily know how to identify snakes or understand snake behavior over the many herpetologists that do so for a living.
The vast majority of people who claim to have been chased by a Cottonmouth couldn’t even tell you the difference between a Cottonmouth and a Watersnake. Watersnakes are much more flighty, and likely to jump off of branches into boats while trying to flee into the water below. This is what many people claim is “chasing”, and the snakes doing it most often aren’t even Cottonmouths. Cottonmouths can also be quick to flee, and if you stand between them and the water they will come in your direction quickly. But you’re not being chased, the snake is just trying to reach the safety of the water where it can move more quickly and escape. I have this happen semi-regularly, and while I wouldn’t recommend anyone else let them do it, Cottonmouths will quite literally crawl right over your foot to get where they want to go without attempting to bite.
Regardless, they don’t pose any real threat of chasing you down and inflicting a bite. Bites occur when people are trying to catch or kill them, and occasionally when they’re accidentally stepped on or grabbed by people not paying attention.
And for diseases, there are no known pathogens that would cause heightened aggressiveness (like rabies) in snakes.
@@NKFherping Thanks for the reply.
You are assuming that the two gentlemen, one in Louisiana and one in East Texas are 1) incapable of identifying a cottonmouth or 2) are unsafe around them. Well, I made sure to get the facts on those two points before venturing to ask my question here.
The truth is they live and make a living in the bayous and rivers, and they can tell the difference between all the local snakes and wildlife. Of all the people I’ve heard claim an “attack” by a cottonmouth, these two are absolutely honest about their incidents.
Plus these two men would never risk getting close to a venomous snake. They have seen many accidental bites from careless people and those trying to show off. Anyway, both of them say that the incidents were uncharacteristic of cottonmouths’ usual mellow behavior.
I’m old enough to remember when the weather “experts” were adamant in their belief that there was no such thing as ball lightning. In all the years, and countless specialists, it had never been caught on tape, or the videos were called fake. Then things changed. Someone finally stopped calling the witnesses hacks and took the matter seriously.
@dartmart9263 I wasn’t referring to your friends specifically, just generalizing based on the majority of people I’ve talked to who claim to have been “chased”. I don’t know them, but I also don’t personally know a single person who claims to have been chased by a Cottonmouth that can actually identify them. And I’m from Georgia, so where they live doesn’t mean much to me. You could pick any 5 dudes from my neck of the woods too, and maybe one of them could identify all the local venomous snakes.
I also never claimed they were being dishonest. Just that they may not necessarily be interpreting what actually happened correctly. If they never risk getting anywhere close to a venomous snake, they’ve likely never had an opportunity to observe and learn from their behavior over an extended period of time like myself and other herpers/herpetologists have. Anyone who has been incorrectly taught that Cottonmouths will chase people growing up is going to see a snake moving slightly fast in their general direction and naturally just assume they’re being chased. That doesn’t make them a liar, but it also doesn’t mean their word carries the same weight as the entire scientific/herpetological community. Like I said earlier, everyone has a smart phone in their pocket, and every other person from the south has been “chased by a cottonmouth”. So why isn’t there a single video of it happening?
Nice wild corn, loggerheads and cottonmouths, especially the third one. Those raccoons and otters are probably reducing the snake and turtle population. They probably killed the turtle too. Someone must regulate them.