The cottonmouth, also known as the water moccassin is closely related to the copperhead. Young cottomouths and copperheads are sometimes difficult to distinguish from one another by the untrained eye. Cottonmouths inhabit areas near water such as slow moving creeks, rivers, swamps and even retention ponds and ditches. Cottonmouths are known for eating just about anything they can put in their mouth but usually survive on frogs and fish that they catch in shallow water. One myth about cottonmouths is that they are very aggressive and will chase you because they are territorial. This is not true. Cottonmouths, when encountered may not immediately flee. This is not because they think they're tough and want to stand their ground but instead because they hope that by remaining still, you won't see them and will continue on your way. When provoked, a cottonmouths usual response is not to bite but instead display their threat pose which is coling up, opening their mouths and showing off the white interior of their mouths.

To learn more about Cottonmouths, check out all of our videos featuring this species here.