Cottonmouth

Breeding:
Live-bearing. Mates spring and fall. August September females give birth to 1-15 young, 7-13” long. Females mature in 3 years and give birth every other year.

Habitat:
Lowland swamps, lakes, rivers, bay heads, sloughs, irrigation ditches, canals, rice fields, to small clear rocky mountain streams; seal level to ca. 1,500’.

Range:
Se. Virginia south to upper Florida Keys, west to s. Illinois, s. Missouri, sc. Oklahoma and c. Texas. Isolated population in nc. Missouri

Subspecies:
Three; broad zones of intergradations. Eastern, cheek strip not well defined, snout top lacks vertical markings; coastal plain, se. Virginal south though Carolinas, west though c. Georgia into Alabama.
Florida, cheek stripe distinct, 2 vertical dark marks on snout tip; se. Alabama, s. Georgia, Florida. Western; head and body markings obscure or absent; se. Kentucky, w. Tennessee, and w. Alabama, west though s. Missouri to sc. Oklahoma and c. Texas.

Do not disturb or attempt to handle! Its bit is far more serious than that of the Copperhead and can be fatal. When annoyed, the Cottonmouth tends to stand it ground and may gape repeatedly at an intruder, exposing the light” cotton” lining of it mouth. Also, called trap jaw or water moccasin. Unlike other water snakes, it swims with head well out of water. Although it may be observed basing during the day, it is more active at night. Preys on sirens, frogs, fishes, snakes, and birds.