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You’re strongly advised to stay far away from the cottonmouth snake if you should ever encounter one, as they’re reckoned to be the most venomous in the United States.

They’re also known as water moccassins and are found in the south-eastern parts parts of the country all the way from southern Virginia to Florida to eastern Texas. They love wet areas, so if you’re near any water source then beware.

2) Cottonmouth

COTTONMOUTH (Agkistrodon piscivorus). Length 3-4 feet. Young cottonmouths are patterned quite like a wide-banded copperhead, but the colors are not so reddish. These snakes are always found in the vicinity of water. When approached they quite often hold their ground and open their mouths widely, revealing the white lining of the mouth, a habit which gives them their common name. This heavybodied snake is dangerously poisonous and, contrary to popular belief, can bite underwater.

Whereas the copperhead is a rather mild-mannered snake, the cottonmouth has a vicious disposition. Although nocturnal, it likes to sun-bathe, and it is frequently seen basking along shorelines, stretched out on low branches or upon the bank. Where this snake occurs, it is usually common.

Have you heard of the massasauga snake? It’s a type of rattlesnake, and it’s definitely one you need to know about, so learn more over the next page.