Water Moccasin

[DaFireMedic]

Water mocassins ain't eels. They're nasty and often aggressive. While it's true that their (or a rattler's) bite rarely is fatal, my understanding is that the bite can damage permanently the muscle where it hits.

Yes, their venom causes tissue necrosis, and you dont want to get bit by one. I've seen some nasty pictures of those bites before. I've never heard of anyone ever getting bit by one while Scuba diving though.

 

[NCSU_Diver]

Growing up on a farm in the south we had many encounters with these snakes. If its a big one then don't worry about it. They don't usualy pack enough poison to kill you. The babies on the other hand pack more poison. Their bodies compensate for their small size with a more potent poison. If your under the water I wouldn't worry about them. I've never seen nor heard of one biting anything underwater. At the surface just step lightly. The usualy won't snap unless you step on or close to them. Usualy we just got out the shotgun and took care of them when we saw them. Cause the only good poisonous snake is a dead poisonous snake.

 

[DaFireMedic]

Growing up on a farm in the south we had many encounters with these snakes. If its a big one then don't worry about it. They don't usualy pack enough poison to kill you. The babies on the other hand pack more poison. Their bodies compensate for their small size with a more potent poison.

The main concern with the younger snakes is that they have less control over their venom. They tend to inject their whole load, whereas larger, older snakes often inject no venom, or only a partial dose as they are generally biting in self defense.

 

[GrierHPharmD]

As a DM and a former poison specialist for the Carolinas Poison Center, I concur with DaFireMedic on the baby snakes issue. I have a few of the same concerns about water moccasins, as I frequently dive in low-viz lakes. I've seen a few harmless water snakes (like the one in the photo at Ginnie - unless the camera angle's playing tricks with my eyes, that's not a water moccasin. The markings and head shape are wrong. One thing to note, though, is that there is a separate subspecies in Florida with a slightly different appearance.), but never that nasty ole bad boy the Cottonmouth. For what it's worth, I can't find anything in the medical literature on snake bites and water sports (including swimming, diving and scuba as search terms).

For your viewing pleasure, here's a link to a pretty good Agkistrodon piscivorus page:
http://www.snakesandfrogs.com/scra/snakes/cotton.htm

Regarding the eel issue - the morays have never bothered me, but the first time I saw a sharptail eel on a night dive, it looked pretty snakelike!

I think the bottom line is to move slowly and carefully in fresh water, not to reach under logs and rocks, and to watch your step during your entries and exits, where you're more likely to encounter them sunning themselves on rocks.

Creepy subject, eh?

-G

 

[IlikeItwetPls]

My experience with 'Water mocassins' is they stay clear of anything they can't eat. However be very weary of the dangerous "Copperheadded Rattle Mocassins", those guys will chase you.

 

[SuPrBuGmAn]

Thanks for the heads up Grier, your link pointed me in the right direction for a correct identification. Turns out my Ginnie snake pictured is a Brown Water Snake. It DOES say its often confused with Moccassin's and Copperheads though Apparently, I'm not the only person to make the wrong ID on these guys!

 

[robbcayman]

About 7-8 years ago I had a run in with a water mocassin on land. I live in Oklahoma and they are common species around here. I picked the snake up thinking it was a garden snake (I was like 14 not too smart) The snake remained calm but when one of my buddies refused to let him leave he striked at him. He missed my friend and slithered away. Leave them alone and they will do the same.

 

[PhotoTJ]

Leave them alone, and they will do you the same courtesy. Just watch where you step and grab.

 

[The Kraken]

Interesting thing about snakes . . . . you can HOLD them as long as you want with impunity, but if you GRIP the snake, it'll probably bite at you.

As long as the snake can move, it thinks it's getting away, but once trapped . . .

the K

 

[downdeep]

Sorry to contradict, but I've had those nasty critters chase me. We had lots of em where I grew up in West TN. Very poisonous with bad attitudes. They'll steal the bream right off your stringer, too.

Beware of water mocassins - they'll bite ye butt.