oak snake and fierce cottonmouth

[Ferrari1233211]

Brilliant staff i enjoyed it GREETINGS!

[sep11ie]

There's no such thing as an Oak Snake...

[TripAAAHerping]

thats a grey rat snake and an eastern cottonmouth!!!

[FRANCESkieJames]

I have a question. What do oak snakes eat?

[cyberskwerl]

@FRANCESkieJames Why Oak of course

[Powerules]

Where did you locate the cottonmouth? The first time I encountered one in my mother's hometown in rural Virginia, I was completely amazed by their intimidating posture. It pains me that some people kill them for impractical reasons.

[mikecatadjuster]

That particular cottonmouth was found in Louisiana. The Oak snake in the Florida panhandle where I lived. There are also 'numerous' cottonmouth in that area. Where you find water there, cottonmouth are plentiful. Swamps that dot the state forest are inundated with them. I've seen well over a hundred in the past two years. Other prevelant snakes are the pygmy rattler and hognose, although I didn't see as many hognose in 09'. The pygmy are 'everywhere' there.

[Powerules]

@mikecatadjuster

Thanks Mike. I can only imagine the thrill of observing a pygmy. Are they docile/prone to immediate escape? Also, given their odd color, are they easy to spot? In other words, do they blend in well with the land like cottonmouths and copperheads?

[mikecatadjuster]

Pygmy, as the name implies, are small, thus offer less mass to spot. And most often I would observe them in a circular fashion, resting, and yes, they blend well. Mostly they were not quick to exit and allowed me observation time. Similiar to cottonmouth, their movement is not poetic. Rather, it is a bit jerky, the opposite of an oak snake or black racer which seems to speed along effortlessly.. The pygmy also has an unusual movement in its head, as if it has turrets sydrome. Btw, they strike.

[bullcurr]

a good target for my shotgun!

[mikecatadjuster]

Actually, no. A good target would be a poster with a bullseye on it. But I understand that a lot of people do enjoy indiscriminantly killing living things. Not much I can do about that.

[bullcurr]

@mikecatadjuster just protecting my property and dogs from being bitten is all. Peace!

[Winkiedoodles]

No question about that c-mouth being poisonous. Its head is shaped like an arrowhead.

[mikecatadjuster]

That is a great looking head. And yes, it is definately shaped into a tight diamond. That cottonmouth looked fierce to me. I actually picked it up and it bend its head in an eerie way, until I dropped it. I generally don't handle poisonous snakes. I've done it in the past, but really there isn't a reason to and I don't feel the need to 'show off'. But that snake sure had an intensity to it. Although all it wanted to do was get away.

[Winkiedoodles]

As a father of two, I'd agree that you are wise to keep your distance from poisonous snakes.

[360DarkShadow]

wow the white oak snake sure likes your camera:) another awsome video!

[mikecatadjuster]

It did get quite close, didn't it? I actually got some great footage of a snake I hadn't encountered here to this point. I'm sure I'll put it up soon. Thanks for your comment.