Spiders not so bad

[Kevin L]

I know cottonmouth vipers have a reputation for aggression, but my experience (which may not be typical) is otherwise.

I've often picked up cottonmouths with a broom, or gently swept them into a garbage pail that's lying on its side, and quietly relocated them to a canal or another part of the yard.

As I've said, I like snakes (and animals in general), and people often tell me I'm full of s---t...but animals can sense certian things.

I don't tempt fate by handling a cottonmouth with bare hands (like in some church congregations), I certianly don't tease the animal or dare it to bite me.

But--if I treat them with gentleness and respect--I don't have problems.

Snakes are ancient animals, and I believe that they can sense when someone is predatory. If anyone doubts this, then explain how a dog knows when people have cancer, or when a person is about to have an epileptic seizure...even when the patient him(her)self doesn't know and isn't experiencing an aura.

 

[Brent S]

I know cottonmouth vipers have a reputation for aggression, but my experience (which may not be typical) is otherwise.

I've often picked up cottonmouths with a broom, or gently swept them into a garbage pail that's lying on its side, and quietly relocated them to a canal or another part of the yard.

As I've said, I like snakes (and animals in general), and people often tell me I'm full of s---t...but animals can sense certian things.

I don't tempt fate by handling a cottonmouth with bare hands (like in some church congregations), I certianly don't tease the animal or dare it to bite me.

But--if I treat them with gentleness and respect--I don't have problems.

Snakes are ancient animals, and I believe that they can sense when someone is predatory. If anyone doubts this, then explain how a dog knows when people have cancer, or when a person is about to have an epileptic seizure...even when the patient him(her)self doesn't know and isn't experiencing an aura.

Remember one thing about this, all animals are individuals. Even though a certain type has general personality traits, there will be individuals that vary greatly. I had a pine snake as a pet once that was as calm as could be, yet as a general rule they don’t make good pets. Most will starve themselves when in captivity, yet mine had a healthy appetite. The same for water moccasins, but the breed tends to be very aggressive compared to other snakes. As I pointed out though, it’s not evil or just plain viscous, it is just warning off intruders in its area where it lives.

 

[DrHenley]

Kevin, it's not that cottonmouths go around looking for trouble. But if you do anything to upset them, including being in their territory, or making loud noises, or simply being in their way, they can get belligerent in a hurry. Of course any snake can become aggressive if you step on them, but most prefer to run if they sense danger. Cottonmouths are big and slow, so they know they can't outrun danger and prefer to face it head on.

If they come into your territory, like your yard, they might very well just yield. Or they might not, depending on what kind of mood they are in. The sound of gunfire and the sound of a chainsaw seem to make them really mad, and they will seek out the source of the sound and try to silence it. I've seen this first hand.

 

[Psalm7]

Theres a river near by that We go fishing at sometimes by boat sometimes from the bank . We were fishing from the bank one day and I got the Wife set up bait fishing and I started walking up river plugging for Bass . Almost stepped on a big cotton mouth that had a full belly and was taking a nap in the sun .