A Big Cottonmouth

LOL

Great responses all. My wife was with Gwen when she took the picture and said she didn't get close at all, she used a telephoto lens!

My wife says an alligator usually hangs out where they take portraits in this park down there... they were trying to find it to take a photo, be he was not to be found that day.

I would have had to got a stick. Good job we ain't got anything like that over here..lol
Prolly be typing with only three fingers now......LOL
Wait that would be two more, than now.

sadly I have seen more of those than I care to, lol. Never been bit or even struck at. But they are interesting to see. Good picture.

I think that should be the Louisiana state reptile, instead of the alligator. Yhe are prettier. IMHO.

Seen a lot of these close up in my lifetime, and still am wondering why
I haven't been bitten by a couple that I almost stepped on while playing
golf. . . .They go out of their way to let you know they don't want you
around, and will only bite if they have no other choice. I've watched
a lady handle these at a Serpentarium, and she would literally but her
boot almost right on top of these snakes, and they'd open their mouths
but never struck at her. . . . she did this to demonstrate that Moccosins
will not stirke you unless you are deliberatley going out of your way to
aggitate them, or just happen to step right on one.
Nature made these and Rattlesnakes with early warning devices to let
everyone know to back off. Those that get bitten are usually the kind that
think they are the next Crocodile Hunter, or were just unlucky enough to
step right on one without noticing them.

Such a beautiful snake I love venomous snakes for some reason..

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh I once picked up a crawfish trap with one of those in it! I think I hit the bank faster than I ever moved before.

Originally Posted by RavenSpirit360

Such a beautiful snake I love venomous snakes for some reason..

I love watching them in the wild (All Snakes) the venomous ones I respect
and admire from a distance. They don't want me in their space, and I know
my limitations on handling them, so me and the Hot snakes have an understanding.

Originally Posted by cajunmomof4

ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh I once picked up a crawfish trap with one of those in it! I think I hit the bank faster than I ever moved before.

Walked on water for a short distance huh ?

i was climbing a cliff next on a creek bed and on one of the ledges that i climbed was a cottonmouth and it scared me to death. my head was probably 3 feet away from it and i was staring dead into its esyes when i lifted my head about the cliff. talk about scary huh.