Water Snake or Cottonmouth?

NeutronMan · Jun 30, 2019

So I found this dude on my porch. My first guess is harmless water snake. Is he, or is he a baby cottonmouth? I’m a fish guy, not a snake guy.

There is a creek right behind the house so he could be either. Not sure why he’s this far up here. He had to cross a freshly cut yard too.

WVNed · Jun 30, 2019

Looks like a cottonmouth from the pics. It's all about the shape of the head.

Fishfinder · Jun 30, 2019

That is a cottonmouth. Where are you located?

Will Wohlers · Jun 30, 2019

I'm a herpetologist by trade. That is 100% without a doubt an eastern water snake. Completely harmless

NeutronMan · Jun 30, 2019

Will Wohlers said:
I'm a herpetologist by trade. That is 100% without a doubt an eastern water snake. Completely harmless

What I was thinking, but never seen a baby cotton mouth, always been adults so it was more obvious.

I’m in Baton Rouge, LA. What’s a water snake doing this far up from the creek? Don’t guess he’s coming to borrow sugar?

WVNed · Jun 30, 2019

It's a copperhead. All snakes here are copperheads.

Will Wohlers · Jun 30, 2019

You guys have them native there. Words prob gotten out you keep fish and he's coming to visit

Saveafish · Jun 30, 2019

Will Wohlers said:
I'm a herpetologist by trade. That is 100% without a doubt an eastern water snake. Completely harmless

100%. No pit. And no eye slit.

NeutronMan · Jun 30, 2019

Will Wohlers said:
You guys have them native there. Words prob gotten out you keep fish and he's coming to visit

We have been putting out bird seed and have attracted a large number of birds. Even this guy is tiny, might he be interested in what’s going down? Do they hunt like that?