Huge snake population in Little Buffalo in Jasper

[NWAbassinAC]

I live right outside Jasper in Marble Falls. Yes, during the spring you will see TONS of snakes on the Buffalo River. Most of them are just water snakes. I forgot the actual name. Banded water snake maybe?

The large one you were talking about sounds like a Cottonmouth though. Especially when you said it had his head out of water "sitting like a stick." I have seen more than one Cottonmouth do this. It scares the crap out of me lol. Cottonmouths are very buoyant compared to water snakes. They also are usually quite a bit darker with a light underbelly. Also they tend to be fatter for their length compared to water snakes. Their heads are triangular in shape too due to their venom glands being stored in their heads.

Leave them be and they'll leave you be, but I'd keep an eye out for them, especially at night.

[Newton County Nube]

I thought cottonmouth's were not really water snakes. This huge one really seemed to love the water. He/she was stretched out on a rock on the water and with the water so clear, could see about two feet still hanging off water. When the snakes started dispersing because they heard our voices, he slipped into and remained in the water, just submerged with its head up. Looked just like anupright stick. The others all scurried away to hide in rocks. I never saw such a long snake. I saw several skinny banded ones and they just floated away on top of the water..

Would a dog keep these scared off. Say my lab? I had a golden retriever years back that would jump in the water and catch every snake he saw. Kill it and bring to me as a present! Had to watch him everytime he came back into the house to make sure he didn't have his "present" with him! I want to be able to get into this river!

[Newton County Nube]

Good grief! I was thinking of Copperheads not being water snakes--not Cottonmouths. Been reading a lot about them. Feel a little better, but, still freaked about the possibility of getting in water where I saw that many snakes congregated. Water up this week and flowing hard on the Little Buffalo. No sign of a snake.

[fishinwrench]

If they are "long" like over 3' then its more than likely regular old black snakes. They have attitude but are harmless.

[Ham]

Cottonmouths usually aren't all that long. Go online and look at a few pictures. Once you actually see one or two in the wild, you won't have much doubt. Give Cottonmouths some room and it's all good. Their venom is not particularly deadly. If you do some searches online for deaths from Cottonmouths, you largely come up empty. I surely don't want to get bitten by one, but your life is not in danger every time you step out your front door.

Just be happy we don't have King Cobras. Google them for an interesting read.

[Amery]

Also cottonmouth a entire body will float, sounds like the big one just had its head above water. Where did you move from?

[Feathers and Fins]

Largest cottonmouth I know of "Confirmed" by live measure was 5'-2'', death measurements are always suspicious as they can be stretched up to 20% in some cases. The Largest I have seen personally is a infamous one names PK for a reason at just over 4ft long and that snake was raised its life in perfect ideal conditions.

The average Cottonmouth would be 18'' to 26'' in length based on all the ones I caught and or raised. King Cobras I wouldn't sweat even if they were here, slow as a rule and more likely to bluff than bite. Black Mamba would be my fear for aggression and speed would go to a Puff Adder. Neither in the US Wild. Of our snakes the only ones I have concern over is Pigmy Rattlers (they have Napoleon syndrome).

[Ham]

Hey Scott I hear you. Lots of really nasty reptiles out there in the big wide world. I guess I'm overly impressed by the length of a King Cobra. 18 foot I think I read. That's a big snake.

[Newton County Nube]

Hi, Carp, I moved from Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs. Snakes here too, but, water not transparent enough to see them like the Buffalo! Been reading suggested literature. Feeling better. And, very happy to be in one of most beautiful places in Ozarks!

[Al Agnew]

I agree, most cottonmouths in the Ozarks are not very big. I think the biggest I've ever seen was maybe 3 feet. The ones I see on the Jacks Fork are the size that Feathers and Fins said...around 2 feet. They are thick, though...a 2 footer will be over two inches in diameter at the widest point.