Water mocassin : Agkistrodon piscivorus

Notes: Active April through October, often sunning on logs extending into water.

When threatened, the mouth is opened in an exaggerated manner to expose the starkly contrasting white mouth lining (this obviously gives the snake one of its common names "cottonmouth"). Cottonmouths can be aggressive. Unlike their Copperhead cousins, they will often stand their ground.

Their venom is stronger and they tend to be larger snakes than copperheads, making them very dangerous.

Reproduction: Three to eight young born in late August or early September. Adults have few enemies other than human beings, but young are eaten by large fish, snapping turtles, other snakes, wading birds, and mammals. Feeding: These snakes feed mainly in water, eating fish, amphibians, other reptiles, and small mammals.