Huge snake population in Little Buffalo in Jasper

[NWAbassinAC]

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!

If its body was underwater then it probably wasn't a cottonmouth, aka water moccasin. They are very buoyant. I've never seen one longer than probably three feet either. I bet you saw a common water snake. I've seen those suckers get pretty long. They aren't venomous, but they will bite you.

[PigSooner]

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.

I had Burmese pythons when I got out out of high school- 16 ft male and 12 ft female, and they weren't skinny!

[Guest]

For the record, I killed a 6 footer at Tunica back in the day. (the ozark's cottonmouth are smaller)

Its head was the size of my fist.

Smelled like rotten fish when it tried to bite me.

It got the boat paddle treatment.

I dont kill snakes, but this CottonMouth wanted in the boat.