My "close call" snake story
Jul 11, 2022 07:21:55 #
This first picture of the boat dock was taken recently with my phone's camera and is a big part of this story. On February 3, 2020 we had an unusually warm 70+ degree day so on a day like that who doesn't want to get out? I went to our state conservation area hoping to get some bird shots, especially an eagle and I had photographed an eagle before on one of those trees in the lake. So getting out of my car and walking to the end of that dock I was looking up never looking down to where I was stepping. There was nothing to photograph so after a minute or two decided to go back to the car. While walking back I was looking down and spotted this large cottonmouth that evidently I had walked past. At another time I nearly stepped on one in some weeds about 4 inches tall. After those experiences I never put my foot down on the ground without first looking when I'm in that area
Jul 11, 2022 07:31:13 #
Nice shots. I get chills looking at the pics. Snakes creep me out. Especially venomous ones.
Jul 11, 2022 07:33:17 #
Jul 11, 2022 07:34:57 #
Jul 11, 2022 07:47:48 #
The inner mouth indeed is white like cotton and its aperture is wide open ready to flip down fangs and inject.
Great shots during an unexpected, unwelcomed encounter. The fast shutter speed froze any fear activate shake in your hand.
Thanks for sharing JRiepe
Great shots during an unexpected, unwelcomed encounter. The fast shutter speed froze any fear activate shake in your hand.
Thanks for sharing JRiepe
Jul 11, 2022 07:50:20 #
Jul 11, 2022 08:07:29 #
Jul 11, 2022 08:29:59 #
Until I saw these photos, I didn't realize that they kept their fangs up until ready to strike. Thanks for the (unintended) biology lesson. Even better is your bravery - I wouldn't have stopped for the photos. Even zoomed in with phone camera is too close.
Jul 11, 2022 08:39:45 #
Jul 11, 2022 08:46:05 #
JRiepe wrote:
This first picture of the boat dock was taken rece... (show quote)
Nice photos. I had never thought of Cottonmouths in northern states but IL is such a long state, I guess the southern end stays warm enough for them. It is the only US poisonous snake that is so aggressive. Most snakes want nothing to do with us and even rattlers will slither off unless cornered or threatened. I recall as a youth at a summer camp one of the campers chased one into a hedge row only running out a second later with the snake chasing him. You are lucky in that the snake didn't go after you. They are very poisonous, unlike a copperhead which is also likely to be seen in your area. I wouldn't want to get nailed by either but the copperhead is not as deadly as the cottonmouth.
Jul 11, 2022 08:47:58 #
Jul 11, 2022 08:55:10 #
That would be shocking and I don't know if I would have stopped for the shots! Last week I was driving a tractor on the farm and a mid-size black bear came walking by me. I was so excited to see it I totally forgot I had a camera on my belt. Glad you have more control.
Jul 11, 2022 09:23:04 #
NCMtnMan
Loc: N. Fork New River, Ashe Co., NC
Those are some bad boys with a really aggressive bad attitude. We had them all over the place where I grew up in Eastern NC.
Jul 11, 2022 09:33:29 #
Celtis87 wrote:
Nice shots. I get chills looking at the pics. Snakes creep me out. Especially venomous ones.
Thank you. They don't creep me out.
Jul 11, 2022 09:33:56 #
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