Banded Water Snake Or Something Else?

[Al Agnew]

Yep, a good sized one can definitely draw blood, and they also stink horribly when you handle them. I speak from bitter experience on both counts.

We have a water garden in front of the house with about 50 feet of running stream, and use a big pump to recirculate the water from the bottom pool to the top one. We've had two pumps burned out because water snakes got into the pump and clogged it up. I have always kept the pump inside a screened in box, but if there's the least little hole or gap in the screen, the snake gets in and gets sucked into the pump, wrapping itself around the impeller and freezing the pump. Other than that, though, it's pretty cool to have them hanging around the water garden, especially when people come to visit who are afraid of snakes

The worst snake bite I've ever had, thankfully no poisonous ones, was a black rat snake that I found in late February along the river after a period of high water. I suspect it had gotten flooded out of its wintering den. It was so sluggish in the 45 degree temperature that when it would stick its tongue out as snakes do, the tongue would just hang there for a few seconds before it got the energy to bring it back in. Being a kid, I began to tease the snake, which was a good five feet long, trying to get it to open its mouth. I poked it with a stick in the face but nothing happened, so I poked it again with my finger, right on its nose. It somehow got the energy to instantly snap down on my finger, and then it wouldn't let go. Those little teeth are curved backwards, and you can't pull your finger out of one's mouth once it has you. The blood was starting to run. I tried to pry its mouth open with a stick, but couldn't. Finally, mercifully, the snake let go.

I'd just as soon not get bit by another snake that size!

[mic]

There appears to be reaccuring theme going on here. Boys and snakes.

[Mitch f]

There appears to be reaccuring theme going on here. Boys and snakes.

Mic, I still catch snakes all the time!

[Jason R.]

I concur- water snake bites hurt- but they're so fun to catch and chase cousins, sisters and other kids with.

[Terrierman]

I concur- water snake bites hurt- but they're so fun to catch and chase cousins, sisters and other kids with.

Another skill that Boy Scouts helped me to perfect.

[UnCivE]

Looks like a water snake to me too, I always look for that fat, ugly tail on the moccasins. It's a dead giveaway. http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://thesnakechaser.com/snakes/Cotton_mouth.jpg&imgrefurl=http://thesnakechaser.com/SC_Window_2.html&h=768&w=1019&sz=425&tbnid=h69chJyfQAgGvM:&tbnh=101&tbnw=134&zoom=1&usg=__6H8GqcONWANTfwKHLyVAyQ6vNbU=&docid=G3nz86Yh5Uiq4M&sa=X&ei=TaivUe73BdKHqQHKnoDYDw&ved=0CEQQ9QEwAw&dur=453

[Wayne SW/MO]

One thing I always remember is that Cottonmouths are generally found on dry land. When I lived in Laclede county we had a pond with a resident Cottonmouth. When I saw him/it, more often then not, he was in the leaves a foot or so from the bank. He was also not aggressive unless tested by my Husky. She would stalk it and eventually it would show it's displeasure by doing the classic mouth open threat.

[UnCivE]

One thing I always remember is that Cottonmouths are generally found on dry land. When I lived in Laclede county we had a pond with a resident Cottonmouth. When I saw him/it, more often then not, he was in the leaves a foot or so from the bank. He was also not aggressive unless tested by my Husky. She would stalk it and eventually it would show it's displeasure by doing the classic mouth open threat.

Yep, but I've seen em underwater poised like that before, waiting for fish. I darn near stepped on a cottonmouth that was "fishing" in a few feet of water once, and that would've been a painful 45 minute drive, indeed.

[Feathers and Fins]

If you want to see something neat find a dirt road that has toads or frogs on it and pull off and wait right before dusk cottonmouths if they are in the area know roads mean free meals. I have seen many picking off road kill.

[UnCivE]

If you want to see something neat find a dirt road that has toads or frogs on it and pull off and wait right before dusk cottonmouths if they are in the area know roads mean free meals. I have seen many picking off road kill.

Man, I hate snakes. I'll just watch from the truck. haha