You should learn how to tell the difference. If you step on a chicken snake, it will bite you. Then you call 911, freak out all of your friends and relatives and get anti-vemom and an expensive doctor visit.😢😮
I am a avid fisherman and I go to ponds, lakes, rivers, pretty much anywhere I can fish and I have come across many a cottonmouth, and I'm here to tell you, once you have had a few encounters with these snakes you learn real quick how to tell them apart. I have even had them try to climb into a boat with me, had them hanging in a tree above me, in the rocks around me and once when I was sitting on a big rock on the bank of a small pond I had one crawl between my feet, I sat very very still until it was gone but I'll tell you, I didn't care to much about it going between my feet and legs, and yes it was a cottonmouth. In my opinion they are not as aggressive as the copperhead but if disturbed they will not hesitate to strike. It best if people would just leave them alone and let them do what the good Lord intended for them to do
I lived in Southeast Texas for 2 years and while I was there I saw enough cotton mouths to be able to determine them rather easily. One of my neighbors shot one of em that was coming out of his garbage can. That thing was HUGE too! 😮
I appreciate this video! I hope more see this. In northern Illinois at the top of the state. I've had many a argument we don't have them here. If for some odd reason as I haven't looked into this... Pre settling range I don't know.. but we irradiated all top predators and big game between 1890-1910... I even doubt then they were up here but I don't know. They are not now! I appreciate this video
Cottonmouths gape exposing the white interior vibrate their tails and emit a foul smelly musk. Watersnakes do not gape or vibrate their tails when you approach them they can emit a musk.
Ya. Pupils can dilate in low lighting. I've seen plenty of copperheads and a few cottonmouths with round pupils while out looking for snakes. I help ID snakes and rescue them. I am on FB and NextDoor with my groups
One was to tell is to stick your hand down by it's mouth. If these two long fangs come out and sink into your hand and inject a painful liquid into your hand, then it's definitely a water snake acting like a cotton mouth
You should have added a sixth way the easiest way to identify the two from each other is when they're swimming a cottonmouth swims completely on top of the water with its head tilted at a 45° angle almost the entire time the only thing a water snake has above the water is its head
A few other least known identifiers are: 1. Top hats. The Cotton Mouth wears a white one and the water snake wears a crumpled dark brown one. 2. Hand shake: The WM shakes hands with his mouth. The water snake doesn't have arms. 3. The ole Cotton Mouth lives in swampy backwater areas usually but prefers a 5th Ave high rise apartment. The water snake, WHAT!!!?? He ain't got NO money!!!!
Cotton Mouth swims in a wider S pattern using its whole body side to side to complete the S motion. Water Snakes and Indigos are more narrow looking in the water and have a stretched out length of the body S pattern with not too much side to side motion......this will save your ass instead of waiting for an up close to check facial features....lol
Cottonmouth ld 50 00 25.8 mgkg SC hemotoxic and cytotoxic venom is among the least toxic venomous snakes in North America only one person has died from a Cottonmouth bite since 1971 and he didn't receive the Crofab antivenom for the bite telling his girlfriend he couldn't afford it . His autopsy revealed he had a high level of pain medication in his system that contributed to his passing. RIP Mr Deleon of Missouri 2015 .
You forgot to mention head shape, cotton mouths have the very stereotypical venous snake triangular shaped head. Water snakes have more rounded head shapes.
Best way to tell is look at a lot of them until you get really good I wouldn't recommend anyone getting close enough to see pupil shape lol after you've seen enough of these two snakes you can tell pretty easily although depending on age size and region it make take a second look to be sure
#4 the "eye stripe" is the best and safest way to identify the water moccasin. They are born with the distinctive stripes and die with them. Look like a raccoon
Watersnakes are not venomous. However they still bite when picked up and their saliva has anticoagulant properties that make the recipient of a bite bleed for a long time. It's usually to catch fish but has the same affect on us.
Yes, however Watersnakes have bright pink mouths that almost look white, so unless the snake is clearly advertising its mouth it would be hard to tell. Watersnakes don't gape their mouth open.
The pond I go to has a ton of water snakes there pretty friendly they come close to me and I feed them. I even picked up a few. I saw cotton mouth stalking some river rats 🐀 beautiful snake it was.
Wait a minute... I've been shooting cottonmouths off of the shore of Oneida lake... AT POINT BLANK RANGE!? HOW DID IT NEVER ATTACK WHENEVER I WOULD MISS OR HIT THE BODY?! WHY WOULD IT JUST STAND THERE LIKE AN IDIOT ON THE ROCKS?!
They were most likely relying on their camouflage to stay hidden or trying to stay still to not be noticed. Lots of snakes do that including venomous ones.
You sir are wasting folks time with this video!!! Biggest, most important diffence is simple. Non venomous snakes have round heads, v shape or arrow shapes heads are venomous....simple and quick. Please don't get people hurt with the la d da like this video!!!!
Not accurate, given many harmless snakes mimic that head shape when threatened. That also doesn't apply to Coralsnakes which have tons of mimics in the western hemisphere, many with similar shaped heads.
There are more than 5 differences between these snakes, but RUclips Shorts only gives me a minute...
Is a water snake venomous
@@johnnyesponge9218 no
Pupil shape is not a good identifier. Just like a human eye, a snakes eyes can dilate. A cottonmouth does not always have a slit type eye.
Doctor " how the heck did you get bite on the nose by a cottonmouth?". Uh...I was looking for heat pits and pupils"
When I see a snake I don’t stick around to find out what it’s called😂
Books and tv is as close as i like to get to them
"When I see danger I am not slow, it's hip hip hip and away I go" - signed Under Dog
@@artkyger3425 never fear! 😆
You should learn how to tell the difference. If you step on a chicken snake, it will bite you. Then you call 911, freak out all of your friends and relatives and get anti-vemom and an expensive doctor visit.😢😮
Cottonmouth :“How dare you calling me fat“💀
Vipers always have that angry face
They really do.
If I see the cottonmouth around my yard or woods it’s a dead snake
"Cottnmouths are Short and Fat."
Cottonmouths: "Emotional Damage!"
They remind me of some of the individuals in the lgbtqrst community 😅
@@jd291 dammmm but fr fr
Maaaaaaaan, if I EVER get close enough to a cottonmouth to verify the pupil orientation… (fill in the blank) 🤣
You and me both
Pupil shape is not a good identifier but all the other are spot on! Good job
Truth
I am a avid fisherman and I go to ponds, lakes, rivers, pretty much anywhere I can fish and I have come across many a cottonmouth, and I'm here to tell you, once you have had a few encounters with these snakes you learn real quick how to tell them apart. I have even had them try to climb into a boat with me, had them hanging in a tree above me, in the rocks around me and once when I was sitting on a big rock on the bank of a small pond I had one crawl between my feet, I sat very very still until it was gone but I'll tell you, I didn't care to much about it going between my feet and legs, and yes it was a cottonmouth. In my opinion they are not as aggressive as the copperhead but if disturbed they will not hesitate to strike. It best if people would just leave them alone and let them do what the good Lord intended for them to do
Dude I was literally wondering how to tell the difference earlier today. And then boom. This came on. Thank you for making this.
Neither have to worry about me, getting up close and personal to tell difference between the two!
Water Snakes are basically the Karens of the snake world.
I lived in Southeast Texas for 2 years and while I was there I saw enough cotton mouths to be able to determine them rather easily. One of my neighbors shot one of em that was coming out of his garbage can. That thing was HUGE too! 😮
I appreciate this video! I hope more see this. In northern Illinois at the top of the state. I've had many a argument we don't have them here. If for some odd reason as I haven't looked into this... Pre settling range I don't know.. but we irradiated all top predators and big game between 1890-1910... I even doubt then they were up here but I don't know. They are not now! I appreciate this video
Cottonmouths are gorgeous snakes, most vipers are though
Dude why do cottonmouths look like my cat after we take him to the vet(very grumpy) lol
Cottonmouths gape exposing the white interior vibrate their tails and emit a foul smelly musk. Watersnakes do not gape or vibrate their tails when you approach them they can emit a musk.
You can also do a water snake grab test. If it bites you and you have extreme swelling and pain around the bite site, it’s a cottonmouth.
My grandma used to say if a snake has cat eyes, get away from it
Smart women mines said the same thing
Thats right and a triangled head
The water snake looks all cute and happy While the cotton mouth snake looks angry
Ya. Pupils can dilate in low lighting. I've seen plenty of copperheads and a few cottonmouths with round pupils while out looking for snakes.
I help ID snakes and rescue them. I am on FB and NextDoor with my groups
Helpful tips. I just did a comparison of these 2 snakes. I could tell the venomous snake just from its head alone. They actually look venomous!
One was to tell is to stick your hand down by it's mouth. If these two long fangs come out and sink into your hand and inject a painful liquid into your hand, then it's definitely a water snake acting like a cotton mouth
You should have added a sixth way the easiest way to identify the two from each other is when they're swimming a cottonmouth swims completely on top of the water with its head tilted at a 45° angle almost the entire time the only thing a water snake has above the water is its head
A few other least known identifiers are:
1. Top hats.
The Cotton Mouth wears a white one and the water snake wears a crumpled dark brown one.
2. Hand shake:
The WM shakes hands with his mouth.
The water snake doesn't have arms.
3. The ole Cotton Mouth lives in swampy backwater areas usually but prefers a 5th Ave high rise apartment.
The water snake, WHAT!!!?? He ain't got NO money!!!!
Number 6: Get the Yoink Guy to check for you. He successfully yoinked a cottonmouth and lived.
I don't plan on getting close enough to discern eye dhapes and markings. Cottonmouths are pretty short and tubby and they have a distinct odor.
Cotton Mouth swims in a wider S pattern using its whole body side to side to complete the S motion. Water Snakes and Indigos are more narrow looking in the water and have a stretched out length of the body S pattern with not too much side to side motion......this will save your ass instead of waiting for an up close to check facial features....lol
#6 If you die from its bite it's a cottonmouth.
Cottonmouth ld 50 00 25.8 mgkg SC hemotoxic and cytotoxic venom is among the least toxic venomous snakes in North America only one person has died from a Cottonmouth bite since 1971 and he didn't receive the Crofab antivenom for the bite telling his girlfriend he couldn't afford it . His autopsy revealed he had a high level of pain medication in his system that contributed to his passing. RIP Mr Deleon of Missouri 2015 .
Get ya some them alabama cottonmouths down in the swamps ...seen 5 in one day one time and at lesst one everytime
A boop noodle and a nope rope
#1. Water snakes look cuddly and cottonmouths look like spawn of satan
You forgot to mention head shape, cotton mouths have the very stereotypical venous snake triangular shaped head. Water snakes have more rounded head shapes.
Best way to tell is look at a lot of them until you get really good I wouldn't recommend anyone getting close enough to see pupil shape lol after you've seen enough of these two snakes you can tell pretty easily although depending on age size and region it make take a second look to be sure
And the cottonmouth can have a round pupil in low light or when agitated.
Pit viper head is triangle shaped , water snakes head are football shaped
My question is, who is getting close enough to notice facial features
MAKE SURE TO GET DOWN REAL CLOSE TO CHECK THE PUPILS, AND FOR PITS.😅
#4 the "eye stripe" is the best and safest way to identify the water moccasin. They are born with the distinctive stripes and die with them. Look like a raccoon
You are assuming I would get close enough to notice these differences???
I AM CERTAINLY NOT CHECKING THE EYES!!
And if your close enough to check out heat pits , your getting bit
I dont think I'd have much time or interest looking for those differences .... distance is key
I don't want to risk being close enough to be able to identify all these features in the chance that it is a cottonmouth
It's also worth mentioning thats theyre also called water moccasins, both have similar names but are very much different from eachother!
When i was a the river i just stick my head in at the rock and a snake pop out
I mean snake
😂thank you for the education BUT i will pass on getting close enough to to tell one from the other. THEY BOTH BITE, THEY ARE BOTH VENOMOUS
Watersnakes are not venomous. However they still bite when picked up and their saliva has anticoagulant properties that make the recipient of a bite bleed for a long time. It's usually to catch fish but has the same affect on us.
Don't cottonmouths have white mouths? The inside of course
Yes, however Watersnakes have bright pink mouths that almost look white, so unless the snake is clearly advertising its mouth it would be hard to tell. Watersnakes don't gape their mouth open.
@@hylaherping9180 Thanks. I have never been close to a cottonmouth to see it in person. They are native to my state NC. I did rescue a copperhead.
How about I just leave both alone, lol?
I will stay around to see any of details, lol
Thanks
Water snakes get big too.
How about head shape yo? Most recognizable aspect imo.
The way I look at it they could both text me and I wouldn't give a shit
All i know long as we not close he can live
I’m sorry, but all of those require me getting very up close and personal with the snake…
I don't care what kind of snake it is if I see it approaching me I'm running
Can cottonmouth crossbreeding to puff adder or death adder🤔
No, they aren't closely related, however Cottonmouths might be able to be cross bred with copperheads.
the crown over eyes is the easiest way.
If I was close enough to be able to identify most of these differences I don’t think I would be focused on such things
Tell me who is going to check these id methods
The pond I go to has a ton of water snakes there pretty friendly they come close to me and I feed them. I even picked up a few. I saw cotton mouth stalking some river rats 🐀 beautiful snake it was.
I'm not getting that close
Jeff!
1 smoked weed other didn't 😏
Who is getting close enough to fact check!💯💯
Don't plan on getting close enough to see any of these features
Wait a minute... I've been shooting cottonmouths off of the shore of Oneida lake... AT POINT BLANK RANGE!? HOW DID IT NEVER ATTACK WHENEVER I WOULD MISS OR HIT THE BODY?! WHY WOULD IT JUST STAND THERE LIKE AN IDIOT ON THE ROCKS?!
They were most likely relying on their camouflage to stay hidden or trying to stay still to not be noticed. Lots of snakes do that including venomous ones.
Terrible painful bite by a cottonmouth!
Im not doing an eye exam on any snake.
Number 6 they will gape it you would approach
Nope pupil shape is not a good indicator nor is head shape
Water snakes will flatten widen themselves tho. The head looks more arrow shaped. Body looks thicker. Do more research
tl:dw poison snek looks meaner
I hate all kind of snakes without or with legs!!!
Snakes don't hate you back. They'd prefer just to avoid humans at all times.
Idc which it is, Im still gonna touch it
Same. Snakes don’t want the touchy touchy….I know touchy touchy
allways heard the smell like cucumbers too.
Cannot confirm or deny that...
If your cucumber smells like a cottonmouth throw it away 😅.
Copperheads are supposed to smell like cucumbers, never heard of cottonmouths smelling like it though
You sir are wasting folks time with this video!!! Biggest, most important diffence is simple. Non venomous snakes have round heads, v shape or arrow shapes heads are venomous....simple and quick. Please don't get people hurt with the la d da like this video!!!!
Not accurate, given many harmless snakes mimic that head shape when threatened. That also doesn't apply to Coralsnakes which have tons of mimics in the western hemisphere, many with similar shaped heads.
Long & thin will get you in! But short & fat, is where it’s at!! ALABAMA!!
Oh let me look in the sake’s eye to see if it’s a moccasin or not😑