Sun 17 May 2009
Cottonmouth by our front door
Andrew walked out the front door today and nearly stepped on this guy. At first we thought it was a water snake, but then he opened his mouth and showed us his two fangs. Then we thought it was a copperhead, but he escaped into the bushes and rattled. And we could see his tail rattling in there, too. But then he escaped entirely, and we couldn’t figure out where he went. So we’ll be checking out the window first whenever we go out our front door for the next few days!
[We originally concluded it was a rattlesnake, but someone left a comment on this photo on Flickr.com saying it was a cottonmouth. He was right. It's a cottonmouth. This picture on National Geographic looks exactly like what this snake did when he saw us.]
May 17th, 2009 at 10:12 pm
Even if it is a cottonmouth instead of a rattlesnake (see comment on Flickr photo), perhaps you should come see us at our house next week instead of us coming to yours.
Do you need me to help find a gun for you?
May 18th, 2009 at 9:55 am
From Flickr: Correcamino says:
“Not a rattlesnake, it’s a Cottonmouth. They will still vibrate their tails when frightened and if in leaves will make a rattling sound.”
And I think he’s right. It’s head didn’t look like a rattlesnake, but I couldn’t explain the tail rattling the leaves otherwise. Thanks!