How Do You Spot A Cottonmouth Snake?
The Cottonmouth is the only poisonous water snake found in North America. It is a pit viper and senses movement with its pit in between its eyes. The Cottonmouth snake is found in three subspecies. The Western Cottonmouth, the Eastern Cottonmouth, and the Florida Cottonmouth have common characteristics and traits that distinguish them from nonvenomous water snakes. Look for a cottonmouth snake in its habitat. Cottonmouths are found in waterways and wetlands. The cottonmouth prefers swamps, streams, ditches, marshes, and other wet areas. They will leave the wetlands for food, but prefer to be in the water, near the water, or sunbathing above the water on branches waiting for approaching prey. Spot a cottonmouth snake in certain areas of the United States. The Cottonmouth snake is found from Illinois south to Alabama, west to Oklahoma and Central Texas. Florida has its own subspecies of the Cottonmouth. Notice the cottonmouth snake’s characteristics. Cottonmouths are large dark brown, ol
