I caught this cottonmouth near a swimming pool in the suburbs of Charleston, SC. A member of the pit viper family, the venomous snake species is common in the southeastern United States; it’s sometimes referred to as a water moccasin due to the white coloring of the inside of its mouth. Cottonmouths are often mistaken for nonvenomous water snakes but can be distinguished by their signature pit viper features: thick bodies, vertical eyes, and spade-shaped heads. Bites to humans don’t normally occur, but when they do, victims should seek medical attention immediately. Click to browse my high-definition video collections, or click to view my high-resolution photo gallery.
