Jack,
Those are interesting stats and for someone who has not lived in venomous snake country for 41 of my 47 years, it is encouraging.

That said, I don't like any snakes and will do my best to avoid them at all costs. You won't have to worry about me killing a snake unless my life depends on it because I won't be close enough to it!

iluvfishing,

You know that is a great attitude. Sure I try to help people loose their fears but simply an willingness to not kill unless it needs to be done is all most of the people who want snakes not to be killed ask for.

The biggest FACT that tells the tale is that most venomous bites in the US are on the hands and lower arms.

Think about that it alone tell you all you need to know about why snakes bite when they do bite,

Read somewhere that 95% of fatal bites came from Rattlers and we know that folks often hunt and try to handle these things.
Ill bet more ill will is recived from spiders and such than snakes every year. Maybe even find stats showing more folks bitten by rats and other rodents than snakes every year...and Id rather ahve the reptiles than rodents.
If killed my share of snakes but have let my share slide or swim on by.
Ive always wanted to see a blue indigo attack a rattler and "duke it out" so to speak!
It all depends on proximity. And Risk. Having a Liver disease I cant risk any venomus bites and I'll not stay at the house either! I dont freak out and loose focus and start shock and awe tactics on them.I own a nice 19" set of snake boots If I feel Im really treading in there home bu tthey are abit much for simply bank fisihng summer wear. Ankle high rockies do the trick for me during the summer.

Ranger R,

Not questioning you--if you killed it, you identified it accurately, I'm sure--but it is very dubious when most folks claim to have seen a 6 foot cottonmouth. The current world record is 6 feet, 1-1/2 inches. They rarely exceed 4 feet. If yours really was that long, you likely killed yourself a new world record!

Thats what I couldnt figgure out to say, didnt want to question Ranger R wither...similar name and all... :p ...but seemed to me that a 6 ft Moccasin was a bit huge and had to be a antiquidated snake, abmnormaly huge! 78.0" !!!
Bet it had 3" Fangs!!! Imagine the amount of venom a snake that size makes and could deliver if it hasnt eaten in awhile!!!

But then we do have bigger things in Texas!


Im still lookign for my pic of a 49.25" cotton mouth I had to whack 20 years ago.
Biggest one Ive tangled with and thats fine by me!!!

Our family company builds wetlands and walks tracts to tell people if they have wetlands.

I've only been in the field a few days this year but have stood a foot from a coiled rattler in January -- guess it was too cold for him to mess with me.

Stepped on the tail of two mocassins (one 3' and one 4') and would someone tell me WHY they WAIT for you to step on them before they will take off?

Been within 6' of two other rattlers.

The only one to strike at me was another 4' rattler (same tract, different day -- remember Flamingo Isle? Shoulda called it Rattlesnake Isle!) This one I was talking to my partner when I stepped over him. Partner yells. I see movement between my boots, look down and here's a rattler's head coming right up at my crotch, jump in that mysterious way one does when stepping on snakes - you know, that toe-jerk and bing you are going for a world record? He went for my leg. I had mid-calf boots on and he got about 2" from hitting my calf over the top of them. Well, after my heart wore down, I bought knee high boots before I went out there again.

But like Jack says, they almost never strike at you. I've certainly never had one strike without a good reason. In fact I've stepped on a number of snakes (that one makes three this year alone) and he's the only one that has struck at me. So I still don't bother wearing chaps - that kevlar gets pretty hot by mid day. And I got a cell phone out of the deal when mum heard about it :>)

John

Yep that does sound big for a cottonmouth REAL BIG. There are a few possibilites.

One it is a 4-5 footer and because such a cottonmouth has such a heavy body and looks so big and impressive and the length was an estimate. A 5 foot cottonmouth is a big snake. They are impressive and look huge.

Two it is not a cottonmouth but a look alike as we have a lot in Texas but that is unlikely as well as none of them typicaly top 6 feet either.

Three it is just one big damn cottonmouth. I hope you skinned it. That should be a great skin and perhaps you do have a world or state record cottonmouth.

I would love to see a picture of that snake,