Look what the high water has flushed out

[Faulkner]

I've seen several snake threads lately so thought I'd share this photo. My 14 year old son and I were kayaking this weekend in the backwater swamps of the Little Maumelle River, a tributary of the Arkansas River. Though the water level is not as high as it has been, the Arkansas River is still backed up because of the high water in the Mississippi River downstream. As a result, seems the higher than normal water in the swamps have still not drained off.

While kayaking through the swamp we saw a lot of wildlife, but I ran across this fine specimen of a cottonmouth water moccasin. I was in a 9 foot kayak and this little brute was at least 2/3rds the length of my boat.

 

[Indiana George]

Yikes! Glad that we don't have those rascals here in Indiana!

 

[sheriffoconee]

Yeah, that's a big varmint.....make a pretty belt

 

[sipowicz]

If I came across that, I would shriek like a school girl meeting Justin Beiber!

 

[Faulkner]

As I was easing up in the kayak to snap a picture my 14 year old son, knowing cottonmouths have a reputation for being aggresive, said, "Dad, don't get up there and make it mad."

I told him if it started after me he'd better hope he could out paddle me.

 

[jlrhiner]

If I came across that, I would shriek like a school girl meeting Justin Beiber!

I screamed like a schoolgirl when I looked at the picture. :0 YIKES!!

 

[m1gunner]

Looks like he has just had 3 meals.

 

[stiab]

Looks like he has just had 3 meals.

They are a fat snake by nature, and very ill tempered. Don't depend on them to give ground when you approach. I worked in the Great Dismal Swamp for 7 years, and have encounted many.

 

[Maximumbob54]

Well fed. Vermin must be good in the swamp.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

If I came across that, I would shriek like a school girl meeting Justin Beiber!

I have come across that and I did shriek like a school girl meeting Justin Beiber!

 

[Erich]

Yikes! Glad that we don't have those rascals here in Indiana!

Did when I was a kid on the Tippecanoe and Wabash Rivers.

Kill every one of them.

 

[oldman45]

When one comes upon something like that, it is not time to scream but time to break out the gun and have some target practice.

 

[VM]

When one comes upon something like that, it is not time to scream but time to break out the gun and have some target practice.

Why?
It's in his home minding his own buisness.

 

[oldman45]

Why?
It's in his home minding his own buisness.

Nope, he has family that will encroach into human homes or bite those on their own property.

Anyway, snakes just need shooting.

 

[VM]

Nope, he has family that will encroach into human homes or bite those on their own property.

Anyway, snakes just need shooting.

Yes, I'll kill a poisonous snake on my property but taking target practice at a sunbathing reptile while boating is not my idea {fun}.
Thanks, but I'll mentor young shooters at the Range.

 

[Jswiney9]

id eat it........... and im not joking.

 

[charlie sherrill]

Fry them in the same kind of batter you use for fish. Just make sure you kill them before you make them mad.

 

[Sebago Son]

Lordy!

You got a depth charge rack on your kayak?

 

[anothermiller]

Id hate to be canoeing along and one of those critters fall out of a low branch..right onto my lap.

 

[oldman45]

Id hate to be canoeing along and one of those critters fall out of a low branch..right onto my lap.

Actually that happened to a local insurance agent. He and his wife were fishing on one of the local lakes and got next to some brush with their boat. A large cottonmouth fell into the floor of the boat. The man promptly shot the snake with his 38spl but it took three shots.

A few words of advice, bullets travel through snakes rather easily. They also make holes in a flat bottom wooden boat. Wooden boats sink faster than one can paddle.