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HUGE Cottonmouth
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by Voided37 on August 23, 2006
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While walking thru Anderson-Tully Wildlife Refuge in Lauderdale county, TN,[Mississippi River Swamps] i had the good fortune to almost step off a log on to a Moccasin at least 7ft long. From the tip of his tail to the tip of his fangs was no mistaking what it was. Anybody else seen one that long?
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RE: HUGE Cottonmouth
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by thedude on August 23, 2006
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The record length for western cottonmouths throughout their range is,I believe, 62" and 74" for eastern and florida cottonmouths.
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RE: HUGE Cottonmouth
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by Cro on August 23, 2006
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It would be nice if you could somehow document that World Record Cottonmouth.
Perhaps a photo of it next to something of known size, like a snake hook or yard stick?
I am not doubting what you say about its length, as I have seen Cottonmouths over 6 feet, and I believe that a 7 footer is possible.
I would just like to see a photo of the beast !
Best Regards JohnZ
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RE: HUGE Cottonmouth
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by Rob_Carmichael on August 23, 2006
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Nothing personal on the first post, but I am very skeptical about a claim of a 7' cottonmouth...of course, I would love to be proven wrong and see a pic of this snake because that would be quite an impressive sight. It's very easy to misjudge the length of a snake particuarly when you are talking about a snake who has a girth like this species. We had a similar report of someone in Southern Illinois who told us of a "monster" 8' cottonmouth. They took us to the snake and when they cheerfully pointed it out to us, I cheerfully told them that it was a nice 4-footer at best (still an impressive snake...no reason to get into a "well, my snake is bigger than your's" debate). Anyway, I would personally LOVE to see a pic of a 7-foot cottonmouth so if the original post can provide a pic, I would enjoy seeing it very much.
Rob Carmichael, Curator
The Wildlife Discovery Center
Lake Forest, IL
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RE: HUGE Cottonmouth
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by Voided37 on August 23, 2006
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He wasn't gonna stick around for me to get a tape measure although he was totally stretched out yet not moving with his head about 10 inches off the ground and his mouth wide open staring at me. And the only thing available to measure him by was the Winchester Defender shotgun i was out shooting that day. Seeing as how i was totally enthralled by him as i'd never seen one that long [or big] before I didn't wanna disturb him no more than i had already. Much less harm him.
I've done house framing much of my worklife so i am well acquainted with boards and their lengths laying on the ground stretched out like he was. There was 18 to 24 inches of short stubby black tail,3.5 to 4ft of brown darkly patterned body, easing into another foot of blackish body on the ground, and about 10 inches more neck off the ground with his head turned around looking at me with his whitish mouth wide open and his fangs clearly visible. I've seen many water snakes and many Cottonmouths and ain't scared of any of them. Love 'em and respect them though.
Another man that grew up in this area claimed he'd seen many up to seven foot so i figured i'd ask here. Was hoping i'd find more here than the skepticism i've found elsewhere. Maybe i'm wrong about this, but i'm not wrong about how long it was....
And for those that just wish to see one like him outta appreciation, thanks, i'd love to see him again also.
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RE: HUGE Cottonmouth
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by Buzztail1 on August 23, 2006
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Before this gets crazy with adamant protests from each side...
An 8 foot cottonmouth would be a world record regardless of whatever state it was found in. Any agency lending credence to such a report would require some proof - a photo with a size reference in the shot, if not the actual snake.
I am not advocating trying to take such a beast from the wild but if you happen to see it again, I would recommend suspending your awe long enough to get a snapshot or two of it.
Such a photo, if verified, could really set the herp community into an uproar. Without proof, it becomes just another claim.
I have personally met THE GUY in Fitgerald, Georgia, whose BEST FRIEND was water skiing and fell off into a nest of cottonmouths. He told me that when they pulled him from the water, the cottonmouths were stuck to him, unable to get their fangs clear of his vest. He clearly remembered pulling them from his vest and flinging them back into the water. I listened in awe. I had waited years to actually meet someone who could lend validity to this urban legend. I asked him his BEST FRIEND'S name and what hospital they took him to. HE COULDN'T REMEMBER HIS BEST FRIEND'S NAME!!!! Or the hospital they took him to, either.
I don't doubt that you saw a very large Cottonmouth.
I am sorry to say, that I am skeptical over whether or not you saw anything over five feet. If you can prove your claim, I will, personally, try to help you get your discovery published as will several of the other "experts" who frequent this site, I am sure.
Karl H. Betz
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RE: HUGE Cottonmouth
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by thenovice on August 23, 2006
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i work reptile rescue and i get alot of calls of people claiming to see a 13 foot python or cobra or cottonmouth in this case. not trying to prove you wrong but because you were not expecting to see this when you stepped over the log; it took you by suprise, both blood and imagination get running so you see things differently and in this case possibly larger. this may not be the case but i see this alot so its just a guess
i would love to be proved wrong, try finding him again, snakes don't travel too far
best regards,
chris hartmann
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RE: HUGE Cottonmouth
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by earthguy on August 23, 2006
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I regularly put the tape to cottonmouths, I do regular contract work (where I often decide how many tiles will fit into a space or how long a board has to be), and I still have a hard time estimating the length of a snake. I have measured well over 100 this summer (copperheads and cottonmouths), and I must say that my tape always measures smaller than my eyes. It's just exciting to see one (no matter how many times you see them). My biggest to date was "only" 160 cm (~5'3"), but I swear he was 12' when I caught him!
If you do find a seven footer let me know where you got it. There would definitely be some ecological research to do at that point.
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RE: HUGE Cottonmouth
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by rickyduckworth on August 23, 2006
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i do interior trim work and also love going down to the swamps where cottonmouths are abundant, and i'll happily admit that my first impression is MUCH longer than what it really is.....i've learned to actually go with a 6-10" shorter measurement than what my first impression is, and that's about right most of the time......i can easily look at lumber and estimate it's length, width, etc, pretty accurately, but a snake is just a different thing altogether (not just figuratively)
not that a 5 or even 6 footer isn't impressive (i'd trade an arm for one) but 5-5.5' is probably more accurate.....
the swamp i herp in has quite a few 3.5-4ft cottons that are nice and girthy; a nice sized cotton.....but if i happened upon a 5.5" snake, it would be as large as a fallen tree to me at first......and maybe at second.....
if it is true, i'd give my remaining arm to see it in person lol....
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RE: HUGE Cottonmouth
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by AquaHerp on August 23, 2006
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Karl,
Ah the nest o' moccasins!!! I have heard that story in all four States I have lived in thus far. My favorite is Indiana where a total of 3-5 leucostoma have ever been recorded for the entire state in history.
Sounds like our friend here perhaps saw a racer by the behavior of the animal (head above the ground as it moved off.) Racers can look pretty long as they slither away leaving that "tracer" visual to the eye as they go. Not sure about the fang thing though. Even with a true cottonmouth you wouldn't see fangs hanging out like that. I'm not belittling what was seen. I once stepped flat onto a racer when I was young and it came up snapping and shot off "mamba style" and I still have that freaky visual stuck in my head. Oddly enough it was almost unsettling even for the "professional snaker" that I thought I was at that time.
Doug Hotle
General Curator
Abilene ZOOlogical Gardens
Abilene, Texas
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