|
1-4 of 4 messages
|
Page 1 of 1
|
|
Habits of cottonmouths?
|
Reply
|
|
by JungleJim1 on June 2, 2015
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
I only have a rudimentary knowledge of snakes.
Sunday night, when I came home there was a black rat snake in my attic fan. I was not sure what type it was at the time. I knew it was not a rattler, nor a copperhead. I was 90% sure it was a nonpoisonous species but not 100% certain. I thought there was some possibility it might be a cottonmouth.
I tried calling several animal removal services but could not get anyone to come out. I was in a conundrum because I wanted him out of the house but I do not believe in killing even venomous snakes unless it is necessary to prevent them from biting someone.
I got a big trash bin and put it under the attic fan. Then I teased the snake with a broomhandle until it crawled down out of the fan, and I coaxed it into the bin. I wheeled the bin out in the front yard. Just then one of the animal removal people returned my call. I sent him a photo of the snake and he ID'd it as a black rat snake.
I took the snake to the other end of my property (I have 11 acres covered with oak trees) and let him go. Unfortunately the snake was struck several times by the blades of the attic fan. I did not see any lacerations on him but he may have suffered blunt force trauma to his head or internal organs. I hope he will be ok.
My question, for those of you familiar with the habits of cottonmouths. Have you ever heard of one going up into someone's attic? Thanks.
|
| |
|
RE: Habits of cottonmouths?
|
Reply
|
|
by choppergreg74 on June 2, 2015
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
|
In general they are not climbers like ratsnaks. They are more terestrial. But there are exceptions to every rule. Ratsnakes like to climb looking for bird nests to raid.
|
| |
|
RE: Habits of cottonmouths?
|
Reply
|
|
by FunnySnakeMan on June 3, 2015
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
As stated earlier, cottonmouth/watermocasins tend to be terestrial, not arboreal. Most mocasins will look fat compared to black rat, black racers, indigo snakes, and king snakes. They also tend to be slower than the non-venomous snakes. Mocasins also tend to be four feet or smaller. I have not seen one bigger than about 3.5' personally. Mocasins also have eliptical pupils. Shine a light on its head.... if the pupil stays round, non-venomous.
But if all else fails, invite him fishing. Mocasins love fishing...lol
FunnySnakeMan
|
| |
|
RE: Habits of cottonmouths?
|
Reply
|
|
by LarryDFishel on June 17, 2015
|
Mail this to a friend!
|
Agreed. Personally, I have never seen a Cottonmouth intentionally climb more than a few inches above the ground (and I have kept a few dozens specimens and seed a few, but not many in the wild). Very unlikely there would be one in your attic. You will hear stories about cottonmouths dropping from tree branches into people's boats, but these are invariably harmless water snakes, which are also very unlikely to be in your attic.
That said, obviously you have a computer. Look up a few pictures of cottonmouths, water snakes, black racers and black rat snakes on images.google.com. The differences are fairly obvious once you've seen them. I say a few, because there are plenty of incorrectly labeled photos on the web.
|
| |
|
Email Subscription
You are not subscribed to this topic.
Subscribe!
My Subscriptions
Subscriptions Help
Check our help page for help using
, or send questions, comments, or suggestions to the
Manager.
|
