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Project Noah Nature School
Agkistrodon piscivorus
Agkistrodon piscivorus is a venomous snake, a species of pit viper, found in the southeastern USA. Adults are large and capable of delivering a painful and potentially fatal bite. When antagonized they will stand their ground by coiling their bodies and displaying their fangs. Although their aggression has been exaggerated, on rare occasions territorial males will approach intruders in an aggressive manner. This is the world's only semi-aquatic viper, usually found in or near water, particularly in slow-moving and shallow lakes, streams, and marshes. The snake is a strong swimmer and will even enter the sea, successfully colonizing islands off both the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. The generic name is derived from the Greek words ancistro (hooked) and odon (tooth), and the species name comes from the Latin piscis (fish) and voro (to eat); thus, the scientific name translates into “hooked tooth fish eater”. Common names include variants on water moccasin, swamp moccasin or black moccasin; also cottonmouth, gapper, or simply viper. Many of the common names refer to the threat display, where this species will often stand its ground and gape at an intruder, exposing the white lining of its mouth. Its diet consists mainly of fish and frogs, but is otherwise highly varied and, uniquely, has even been reported to include carrion.
Cumberland trail, Ashland City, Tennessee.
We spotted this little guy (only 10" long) on the trail during a night hike. It wasn't aggressive, just keen to get away from us. Lisa Powers gently lifted it with her snake hook so we could get a better look.
Spotted on Mar 19, 2012
Submitted on Mar 19, 2012
29 Comments (1–25)
Thanks Emma!
I find the fact that it eats carrion ,very interesting!
Thank you sofiar!
Shanna, I agree wholeheartedly! So much harm is caused through ignorance. One of our key aims is "education" and we have a new Educational function aimed at schools & colleges. It is our hope that Project Noah will inspire & enthuse future generations to really appreciate the wonder of the world around them & want to protect it. It's a lofty goal, but the Project Noah community has already grown so quickly in the last couple of years we believe it is achievable!
I think communities like Project Noah are SUCH a great place for people to share their positive experiences with often-unpopular animals such as snakes. Hopefully the more that people learn about these animals and talk about them as beautiful and valuable rather than threatening and scary, the less indiscriminate killing there will be.
Sounds great! I'm always keen to meet new wildlife spotting buddies!
I've invited you to chat so we can exchange emails.
I've been there. Nice town. Let me know the next time you plan on coming up this way to the Cumberland trail or another near by place so that we can possibly meet up and go searching for wildlife.
Thanks Anton!
n.c yes I live in Franklin, just South of Nashville.
I will check them out. Do you live in Tn?
this is amazing..great shoot sir..
Fantastic! You might also like to check out the missions & join any that interest you. As well as the Global missions there are a number of local ones that cover Tennessee that you might find of interest.
Yes I live in Tn! Ashland City which is about 20 miles NW of Nashville. I have tons of photos. I'm browsing on here looking to see how to upload them lol.
Thanks Mandy!
nspired.creation, I'm so annoyed I missed the hike! Hopefully Lisa will have another one soon. I don't have any experience of handling snakes - I've picked up green snakes & garter snakes but that's pretty much it. We have a 5 or 6' long gray rat snake that resides in our woods that we see from time to time & we occasionally see smaller ones but I understand they will bite so I leave them well alone apart from taking photos. I hope to learn from Lisa so maybe in the future!
How wonderful to be able to get so close to a back bear - I hope you have some photos you can post!
Do you live in Tennessee?
Nice find. Even if it is retreating, you're still pretty brave to get that close to a cottonmouth! Thanks for all the information about it.
Thanks for the welcome!
Me and my wife are often at the cumberland trail no less than once a week, So we may bump into each other sometime there. I agree that most snakes are often killed out of ignorance. I've been bitten by a copperhead once and by a timber rattlesnake once. The rattle snake was a dry bite. Both times were by accident as I didn't see the snakes. Luckily out of the 1000s of venomous snakes that I've handled, Not one had bitten me. When I handle them, It's for various reasons such as trying to help others in identifying the species or for photography reasons or to protect the snake from humans with bad intentions. The cottonmouth that Lisa spotted yesterday, I picked it up with her hook and the snake immediately opened its mouth showing us the fangs. I was excited over it because I have been trying to show my wife what the cottonmouth looks like and this snake gave me that chance. Last year while in the Smoky Mountains, I was able to get within 5 feet of a black bear "which I don't recommend" lol, But the experience was amazing. I was showing some people there that a black bear isn't as aggressive as most people seem to think. I am a wildlife addict. Hopefully we can meet one day.
Welcome to Project Noah nspired.creation!
It sounds like we very nearly met too as I would have been hiking with Lisa if I had not been traveling yesterday! I'm fascinated by wildlife in general & love to see snakes - I'm originally from England & we have very few snakes there. Unfortunately I think most snakes are killed out of ignorance as people see them as a threat though I suspect most of the incidents of snake bites come from people attempting to handle venomous snakes rather than from an unprovoked attack by the snake!
Welcome again, I look forward to seeing your spottings!
I'm new to this site. Me and my wife were biking on the cumberland trail yesterday and ran into Lisa along with Tom Salter from the Ashland City Times newspaper. Lisa had spotted a cottonmouth. I borrowed her snake hook to grab the cottonmouth so that we all could get a better look. Lisa not knowing me had asked if I was going to kill it. This alarmed me. I said lord no, I love snakes. Then I was told about some guys that go to the cumberland trail just to kill these snakes as well as others. I've been handling both poisoness and non poisoness snakes for 30 years. They have just as much right to live as any living thing.
Thanks for your kind words James!
Karen, great series. Awesome addition for the NWF mission.
Cottonmouths are pit vipers—they have heat sensing organs located in pits near the eyes. These pits allow them “see” the heat signature of prey. Even in complete darkness, the snake will be able to accurately strike at prey, because their meal is warmer than the surrounding environment. Added to NWF mission for its super senses.
Thanks Janson! Yes I suspect Lisa has "handled" all kinds with that hook!
Soul soaring wind, it sounds like you had a lucky escape there - & I guess it's a cautionary tale for me as I have done a fair bit of reaching under rocks recently to turn them. Thanks for your story & your comments!
Thank you too Stian!
Felt very lucky that afternoon.
@soul soaring wind - Wow, you were lucky, that would just be terrifying.
Been bite by one of these...broke the first rule in herping. Was trying to catch a fence lizard that had run underneath a railroad tile on a walking path. Felt something bite and carefully road it over. Much to my distress it was a den of baby copperheads, they all moved along expect that one. Used a snake hook to move it along. Used the extract kit, all clear fluid/ Called my Professor from Grad school and we both thought it was a dry bite. 10 hours later still no signs of venom. Very lucky and have never broken that rule again Great find and picture.
Amazing pictures Karen!