Where do water moccasins go in the winter?

In the north, Water moccasins hibernate during the winter. In the southern parts of their range, hibernation may be short or omitted altogether. For hibernation, these snakes use rocky wooded hillsides, burrows of crayfish, tortoises or other mammals, under rotting stumps or other covers.

Where are cottonmouths found?

Cottonmouths range from southeastern Virginia through eastern North and South Carolina, south to Florida, west to Texas, and north along the Mississippi River to southern Illinois and Indiana. The Eastern cottonmouth is restricted to Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida and Alabama.

Do water moccasins stray far from water?

Water snakes spend a lot of time swimming or basking in shallows, but they also venture on land and climb trees. Still, they never stray far from a water source.

Do water moccasins live near salt water?

Water moccasins, also known as cotton mouths, need fresh water to drink and usually live near backwater swamps and ponds, he said. Water moccasins like to eat fish and can hunt in saltwater as long as they have fresh water nearby, he said.

Do water moccasins swim underwater?

Although the water moccasin, or cottonmouth snake , prefers to lounge on logs or tree limbs at water’s edge, it has been known to capture its food while swimming underwater. By the way, rattlesnakes have the ability to swim and bite underwater as well.

Where do water moccasins hibernate?

In the north, Water moccasins hibernate during the winter. In the southern parts of their range, hibernation may be short or omitted altogether. For hibernation, these snakes use rocky wooded hillsides, burrows of crayfish, tortoises or other mammals, under rotting stumps or other covers.

Do water moccasins climb trees?

Contrary to folk stories, water moccasins do not hang from tree limbs and leap into boats. In fact, moccasins usually bask on flat land, tree stumps, and hollow logs above the water’s surface. Water snakes have the agility to climb tree limbs and shrubs that overhang the water.

Where do water moccasins nest?

The Water Moccasin is a semi-aquatic snake and can be found in fields, forests, marshes, swamps, drainage ditches, lakes ponds and rivers. They often burrow in sandy banks and in rotting logs near the edge of the water.