What habitat does a cottonmouth live in?

They can be found in nearly all freshwater habitats but are most common in cypress swamps, river floodplains, and heavily-vegetated wetlands. Cottonmouths will venture overland and are sometimes found far from permanent water.

What are the characteristics of a cottonmouth snake?

Cottonmouth Snakes have a heavy body with a moderately long tail. Occasionally, individuals may exceed 180 centimetres in length, especially in the eastern part of their range. Cottonmouth Snakes are large, aquatic, venomous snakes. Cottonmouth Snakes are generally dark coloured with tones of olive, brown or black.

Do cottonmouths stink?

Cottonmouths eat other snakes, including their own kind. But like any animal, when threatened, cottonmouths will attack to protect themselves. In some places, especially around woodland ponds, you can find western cottonmouths every few yards. Sometimes, you can smell their musky odor in the air.

Why do cottonmouth snakes stink?

The predators of the water moccasin include kingsnakes, alligators, snapping turtles, herons, cranes and humans. Cottonmouths use a gland to spray a foul-smelling musk up to 1.5 meters (5 feet) away to warn potential predators.

Will a cottonmouth chase you?

If you see a cottonmouth in the wild, be calm and realize that you are much larger than it, and it perceives you as a potential predator that has invaded its space. Cottonmouths are not out to get you, are not aggressive, will not chase you, and ultimately would like to be left alone.

What snakes will chase you?

Some species of snakes will actively “chase” human beings, such as the Central American bushmaster (Lachesis muta muta). An enormous and lethally venomous serpent, the bushmaster is well-known for this behavior.

How deadly is a cottonmouth?

The bite of the cottonmouth is highly dangerous and may be fatal. The venom of the cottonmouth is hemotoxic. The venom breaks down and destroys blood cells and other tissues and reduces the ability of blood to coagulate or clot.

How venomous are cottonmouth snakes?

The bite of a Cottonmouth is extremely poisonous and destroys the red blood count in the human body. There are mostly two kinds of snake venom, the neurotoxic and hemotoxic. Both have different kinds of effects.

Are Cottonmouths aggressive?

Cottonmouths have a fearsome reputation as aggressive and dangerous snakes. Many harmless water snakes are killed when people mistake them for water moccasins. However, while cottonmouths do have venom glands, their reputation as a lethal snake is not entirely grounded.