Stepped on a SNAKE......pic.....

Notice in the picture above, the moccasin has a band along the side of its face. That's the best wat to tell. You don't have to get too close to see it. Rattlers have that too. The brown water snake and banded water snakes are often killed, people thinking that they are a moccasin. Keep in mind that water moccasin can have a varied pattern and colors. The one pictured above is somewhat of a juvinile, which will darken over time. Btw, those pygmy rattlers are everywhere. EVERYWHERE!

What's amazing is that I do not see nearly the number of poisonous snakes than I used to. In the yard, on the road, anywhere. And I know they are here.

I am knocking on wood as I say this, because the last time I said that out loud, it was about seventeen years ago and I was driving home. I topped the McQuagge Bayou bridge on East Point Washington (before it was paved) and saw what appeared to be a log in the road. Log was moving...the head was already in the woods on the south side, and the tail hadn't come out of the marshy area on the north side yet. When the tail did come across, I swear it must have had 20 rattles. I know this is like one of those fish stories where the fish gets bigger every time you tell it, but I am not kidding here. That rattlesnake HAD to be between 10 - 12 feet long and 8 - 10 inches around. I just sat there, in awe and respect. It was almost beautiful, but it was the deadly kind of beauty that would make your hair stand up on end. It was by far the biggest diamondback I had ever seen, and I've seen a bunch of six-footers. I have never seen another one like it, not even in a zoo - and I'd be perfectly happy if I don't.

Moccasins WILL chase you. I have been chased out of a local lake by one (Oyster Lake in Dune Allen) They are the most aggressive snakes in our area. Nasty, nasty critters.

http://www.texassnakes.net/myths.html

http://www.texassnakes.net/myths.html

That's great and all, but is there a Florida snakes and more site?

http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/herpetology/FL-GUIDE/Venomsnk.htm

If not hard pressed, the Cottonmouth usually will retreat. This open mouth threat display has led to the widespread belief that Cottonmouths are aggressive snakes. In fact, they are one of the more sedate, even placid, venomous snakes.

Apparently hard pressed means that a human is within 10 feet of it.

I can verify ShallowsNole story about diamondbacks that big in this area. I too have seen ones that reached from one side of the road to the other in that same area before. Saw what I think was a much smaller one (2.5/3 footer) smooshed on Bay drive this AM.

What's amazing is that I do not see nearly the number of poisonous snakes than I used to. In the yard, on the road, anywhere. And I know they are here.

That's because they're hiding... plotting their next attack... J/K.

I killed a Pygmy not long ago in my 'rents yard next to the lake. Got outta the Jeep, started walking up toward the house, and I swear I've got a guardian angel lookin' out for me because I felt the urge to look down right before I took the next step... the step that would have landed right on the damn thing's tail! I pulled my foot back (quickly) and used my cell phone to call my mother out of the house with a shovel.

Sometimes I would say 'live and let live', but this one was way too close to the yard (and the family pets) for comfort. That sucker had to go! :angry:

Not sure about Florida, but snakes, even poisonous ones, are protected here in TN. Not supposed to kill them. If it is causing a nuisance, you are supposed to call wildlife agency, etc. to relocate it.

Cottonmouth Moccasin test: if the snake swims with its entire body on top of the water, it's a cottonmouth; if only the head or front 1/3 of the body is above water, just a common water snake.

Last summer I saw a HUGE cottonmouth swimming in the lake behind Stinky's. They don't grow them that big in TN!

However, there is one bad-ass snake up here that makes all others look like wimps: they're called lawyers.

I know that a moccasin will also play dead. That happened to me once while I was swimming in the bay, if I hadn't seen it out of the corner of my eye...! I like the shoot first, ask questions later, philosophy!