That one does look like a Cottonmouth. It COULD be a Green Water Snake ... but it's hard to tell from the picture.
One distinctive indicator ... the distance from the eye to the tip of the nose. On the Moccasin, it's a sharp, square edge. The top of the nose is a flat surface.
On all other big, dark (non-poisonous) snakes, it's more round.
Looks like a yellow bellied water snake to me.
Tho pic is a little tough to tell from.
Remember, always help who you can, whether you know them or not, blessings come when you least expect it.
My intro - http://www.fishingtx.com/forum/showthread.php?t=19508
Good call, Vett. Very possible. I haven't seen many of those.
Ben ... you're just a little girl, aren't you?
Thanx for the replies.
Mike, I gave this one a good long look. Its head was definitely round. I left it alone. Harmless water snake. I killed one just like it out front only because the wife instructed me to do so.
Anything venomous around the house is toast. Harmless ones like this one will get put in a bucket and carried up to the small pond far from the house. I have to admit, snakes scare the he11 out of me. I have actually developed the ability of hovering in mid air for several seconds when I see one. Relocating them goes against everything I was taught as a kid.
It's hard to do Mike, but I am trying to leave the harmless ones alone. I've busted my rear end cleaning up debris around the house that would make an attractive spot for these legless serpents to dwell.
My deepest appreciation for the efforts, Mike. Killing snakes in one's own yard probably doesn't affect the population ... but maybe it does.
I think of all the species of animals that have gone extinct, or are close, because we've invaded their habitat.
There are too many people on this planet, and we are the only animal that routinely kills just to kill.
I fully understand killing a poisonous snake, when children or pets my be bitten. But that is the only situation where killing them is the best option.
May not be venomous but those snakes are known for having a bad attitude. I've had those things come out of the water and right at me before.
Oh, my friend . What time is this . To trade the handshake for the fist
Mike, I think the population here is doing just fine. Having said that, I am still trying to leave the harmless ones alone. Now might be the time to start a thread on snapping turtles.
Dan, I studied this one for several minutes using my special hovering powers. The special hovering ability is enacted by a special sound much like the shriek of a small girl. A very manly, girlish shriek. All by design to confuse the legless serpent.
Trust me, I had a 6 ft 2x4 within arms reach if it got aggressive. It was fat, slow and full of frogs. I am trying hard to "coexist" with the snakes. Mike is absolutely correct. They can be beneficial. Plus, I can hover.
Now about those snapping turtles...................