I found my favorite hole during January, but now I am seeing many snakes. The diamond back water snakes are harmless except their bite that is not poisonous, right? But what did I see today? It was 6 feet long, dark black, and swimming all above the water surface with the relatively strong current until it spotted me. It turned 90 degrees about 20 feet from me, and headed straight towards me very aggressively. I grabbed my tackle and ran! What was this aggressive black snake, and was I right to run like a school girl?
I also saw a nutria (sp?) last week. Are they docile and generally leave humans alone?

PS:
I hate snakes!

Sounds like a black mamba!

Nah, I don't know much about snakes but one passed me in the creek current as well today.

Nutria are pretty harmless I think, never seen an aggressive one. Like big water prairie dogs.

Sounds like a water moccasin. They can be very aggressive and are poisonous!

Easy way to see if poisonous is to look at the head. Diamond shaped with slit eyes poisonous. Round head round eyes, not poisonous. 6' black snake, could be what we call a coach whip, don't know the real name. Bad attitude, not poisonous. With all this rain and flooding, lots of snakes our out of place right now.

Did he look like this?

Mr Novice,

Yes, I think he looked like your photo, although I thought all shiny black while yours has a bit of a pattern. I thought water mocs were generally shorter and thicker than what I saw. Thanks for all opinions.
So if this bad boy was there today, he will likely be there tomorrow, too?

I'm sure he'll be there tomorrow. I didn't play with him.

With no winter this year snakes are going to be a big issue this spring-fall

Da Judge, needs to go with you.

I almost stepped on 2 cotton mouths on a trail to creek i fished during lunch today. Lets just say I didnt even get my line wet..

I bet something else on your person might have gotten at the very least, shall we say, damp? LOL

Rudy

I've heard that poisonous snakes fill their lungs with air while swimming causing their body to ride on top of the water while non-poisonous snake's bodies are slightly submerged.

Took this last year at RC. So this is a non-poisonous snake because its body is submerged?

I saw a few last weekend in the water at my spot. Looked like a rattlesnake with the diamonds. Are these you called a diamond back water snake poisonous? I'm not sticking around to find out, just curious. I usually never see snakes but saw 2 of them out in the water.

Water moccasins can have diamond patches too. Not just slick black skin.

Google: water moccasin and view images. You will see tons of examples.