Where are water moccasins in Texas?

The cottonmouth, or water moccasin, rarely strays far from water. It can be found in marshes, swamps, ponds, lakes, ditches, and canals in East and Central Texas and along the Gulf coast.

Where do cottonmouth water moccasins live?

They can be found in nearly all freshwater habitats but are most common in cypress swamps, river floodplains, and heavily-vegetated wetlands. Cottonmouths will venture overland and are sometimes found far from permanent water.

Are there water moccasins in West Texas?

Also known as ‘water moccasins’, only one recognized supspecies is found in Texas; Western cottonmouth (A.p. leucostoma). Cottonmouths can be dark brown, olive-brown, olive green or almost solid black. They are marked with wide, dark bands, which are more distinct in some individuals than in others.

Are there snakes in the rivers in Texas?

This heavy-bodied snake, which averages about 3-1/2 feet in length, is found over the eastern half of the state in swamps and sluggish waterways, coastal marshes, rivers, ponds and streams. Texas coral snakes are extremely shy and non-aggressive.

How do you identify a water moccasin?

The quick and easy way to identify a water moccasin is to look for its wedge-shaped, blocky head (from above, as in a boat, you can’t see its eyes), check for the heat-sensing slits beneath and between its eyes and nose, and note its olive, dark tan, dark brown or an almost black body, thick and python-like in its …

Do water moccasins stay in one area?

Cottonmouths rarely stray far from water. This is especially true of adults. They’re solitary, but during mating season the males try to establish a hierarchy. They usually hunt at night and can do this effectively because they are pit vipers.

Will a cottonmouth chase you?

If you see a cottonmouth in the wild, be calm and realize that you are much larger than it, and it perceives you as a potential predator that has invaded its space. Cottonmouths are not out to get you, are not aggressive, will not chase you, and ultimately would like to be left alone.

What part of Texas has the most snakes?

Central Texas
The Central Texas region has the largest number of species. As for parts of Texas where there are many individuals, West Texas, Central Texas and South Texas are great places to go to find snakes.

What do water moccasins look like in Texas?

Unlike a harmless water snake, the water moccasin in Texas is very thick and moves around with a heavy, stocky body. The tails are often very short and thick as well. It often appears as a banded water snake, however adults can be all black. Texas Water Moccasin scales will be rough looking and keeled.

What does a water snake look like in Texas?

Also known as the banded water snake and southern water snake, this species has dark, wide, brown, olive or black bands, separated by lighter, irregular-shaped bands. This variety of water snake has round eyes with round pupils. Broad banded water snakes and are generally between 20 and 30 inches long.

What do you do if you see a water moccasin?

Are there water moccasins in the hill country?

Unlike other venomous snakes in the Hill Country, water moccasins, also known as cottonmouths, are extremely rare. Sometimes, people out tubing or fishing on the rivers claim to see these snakes, but water moccasins have a distinctively thick, dark body and white inside their mouths, giving them their other name of cottonmouth.

How to identify water moccasin snakes?

If you want to identify a water moccasin, you’ll recognize the large, flat, triangular head and the heat-sensing slits around the nose and eye area. Even though these snakes are venomous, they aren’t aggressive like water snakes. Cottonmouth snakes just want to avoid humans and only attack when threatened.

What kind of water snakes live in Texas?

Diamond Back Water Snake These are the most common water snakes in all of Texas and they live throughout the entire state. The round-eyed diamondback water snake is a non-venomous colubrid snake belonging to the genus nerodia. You’ll find the snake in different aquatic habitats such as ponds, dams, streams, lakes, and swamps.