Nature Brown Watersnake

Brown Watersnake · **1 Like**

Late in the day with the sun setting behind the treeline - good thing the KP handles high ISO without fuss!

**MikeNArk** · 12-27-2021, 06:15 PM

Nice capture. That snake looks like it could be aggressive. Are you certain that snake is not poisonous?

**CBM** · 12-27-2021, 06:57 PM

Originally posted by MikeNArk

Nice capture. That snake looks like it could be aggressive. Are you certain that snake is not poisonous?

I always thought that a triangular head = poisonous, so if I were not standing on a wooden walkway with railing, I would not have gotten that close!. Definitely a triangular shaped head on this guy! But...according to several websites I found, the brown water snake is often confused with the cottonmouth. The key in identifying the two is whether or not you can see the eyes when looking straight down at the head from above, if you can see the eyes it's not a cottonmouth. Anyhow, they also stress that this snake will bite you if you mess with it, although not poisonous you will know you have been bitten!

**MikeNArk** · 12-27-2021, 07:13 PM

Originally posted by CBM

I always thought that a triangular head = poisonous, so if I were not standing on a wooden walkway with railing, I would not have gotten that close!. Definitely a triangular shaped head on this guy! But...according to several websites I found, the brown water snake is often confused with the cottonmouth. The key in identifying the two is whether or not you can see the eyes when looking straight down at the head from above, if you can see the eyes it's not a cottonmouth. Anyhow, they also stress that this snake will bite you if you mess with it, although not poisonous you will know you have been bitten!

Thanks. It certainly looked like it could be a cottonmouth when I looked, but I see what you mean about the eyes. Good to know. Thanks.

**CBM** · 12-27-2021, 07:28 PM

Originally posted by MikeNArk

Thanks. It certainly looked like it could be a cottonmouth when I looked, but I see what you mean about the eyes. Good to know. Thanks.

I stick with the "triangular head" as a quick identification method - it's a lot easier to identify the fine points from the safely of your desk!

5ks · 12-27-2021, 11:23 PM

Don't know much about shakes but I find this a very exciting capture.

**othar** · 12-28-2021, 01:47 AM

As I am not that fond of snakes in general, poisonous or not, this one looks nasty to me

But it makes for a good model, nicely captured

**Kerrowdown** · 12-28-2021, 02:59 AM

Originally posted by CBM

Brown Watersnake

These are bad enough on dry land... snakes I mean and now your telling me, I've got to start checking my bathwater.

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12-27-2021, 06:15 PM	#2
MikeNArk Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2019 Location: Conway, Arkansas Posts: 15,088	Nice capture. That snake looks like it could be aggressive. Are you certain that snake is not poisonous?

12-27-2021, 06:57 PM	#3
CBM Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: May 2021 Location: Delray Beach, Florida Photos: Gallery Posts: 377 Original Poster	Originally posted by MikeNArk Nice capture. That snake looks like it could be aggressive. Are you certain that snake is not poisonous? I always thought that a triangular head = poisonous, so if I were not standing on a wooden walkway with railing, I would not have gotten that close!. Definitely a triangular shaped head on this guy! But...according to several websites I found, the brown water snake is often confused with the cottonmouth. The key in identifying the two is whether or not you can see the eyes when looking straight down at the head from above, if you can see the eyes it's not a cottonmouth. Anyhow, they also stress that this snake will bite you if you mess with it, although not poisonous you will know you have been bitten!

12-27-2021, 07:13 PM	#4
MikeNArk Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2019 Location: Conway, Arkansas Posts: 15,088	Originally posted by CBM I always thought that a triangular head = poisonous, so if I were not standing on a wooden walkway with railing, I would not have gotten that close!. Definitely a triangular shaped head on this guy! But...according to several websites I found, the brown water snake is often confused with the cottonmouth. The key in identifying the two is whether or not you can see the eyes when looking straight down at the head from above, if you can see the eyes it's not a cottonmouth. Anyhow, they also stress that this snake will bite you if you mess with it, although not poisonous you will know you have been bitten! Thanks. It certainly looked like it could be a cottonmouth when I looked, but I see what you mean about the eyes. Good to know. Thanks.

12-27-2021, 07:28 PM	#5
CBM Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: May 2021 Location: Delray Beach, Florida Photos: Gallery Posts: 377 Original Poster	Originally posted by MikeNArk Thanks. It certainly looked like it could be a cottonmouth when I looked, but I see what you mean about the eyes. Good to know. Thanks. I stick with the "triangular head" as a quick identification method - it's a lot easier to identify the fine points from the safely of your desk!

12-27-2021, 11:23 PM	#6
5ks Pentaxian Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Southern Finland Posts: 681	Don't know much about shakes but I find this a very exciting capture.

12-28-2021, 01:47 AM	#7
othar Site Supporter Join Date: May 2014 Location: Linz Photos: Albums Posts: 3,098	As I am not that fond of snakes in general, poisonous or not, this one looks nasty to me But it makes for a good model, nicely captured

12-28-2021, 02:59 AM	#8
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,815	Originally posted by CBM Brown Watersnake These are bad enough on dry land... snakes I mean and now your telling me, I've got to start checking my bathwater.

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