Is it a water moccasin?

Some people ask this question when they sec a snake in the water. Unfot1unately, many people assume all snakes in the water arc Water Moccasins and kill them "just in case." Along with shark:; and bats, snakes arc among the most misunderstood and mistreated aninmls on e"Jrth. Yes, some species of snakes, including the Watcr Moccasin (Agkis/rodoll piscivorous), also known as ~le CottonmoUlh, are \'enOmOU5 and thercfore a potcntial dangcr, I-Iowever, of thc 41 snake specics native 10 Georgia and South Carolina, only sLx are \'enomous-all others are complctcly harmless. Among Ihe 35 harmless non-venomous snakes, fi\'c species of Water Snakes (Nerodia spp.) are often unfortunate victims of mistaken identil}~ought to be Waler Moccasins. This brochure was developed 10 highlight the differences bel\veen Water Snakes and Water Moccasins with the hope thai familiaritywilh these snakes will prevenl further
NOI/vent)//WUS Ira/er S//akes, such as this /Jrou'l/ Irafer Snake, may
be mistaken for venOl/WIIS Irater ,l/occmi/lS.

unnecessary killing of non-venomous snakes (which is illegal in Georgia) commonly found in aquatic habitats in Georgia :md South Carolina.
Adlill Retl-8dlietllf(lll!r Snake.
However, this information is not provided to point out which spccies to kill and which species not to kill. The Water Moccasin's rumored reputation as a vicious snake far exceeds its lrue charactcr. This is 1I0t an aggrcssive snake that :lnacks without provocation, and rarely does it strike even when harassed. Vcnom is a precious commodity lhat Water Moccasins usc for subdUing prey, and wasting vcnom on anything that is nOI "food" may prevent a snake from catching its ne\1 meal. Further, the gaped display of the 'cottony" inner-mouth of a Water Moccasin is not an act of aggression, but rather a warning of its toxicity----no different than the rattling behavior of Rattlesnakes or the bright waming colors of the Coral Snake. Venomous snakes pose very little thre<lIto humans who 1e<IVC them alone-the vast majority of snakebites result from altcmpting to capture, harass, or kill them.
WA'l1m MOCCASINS (CmTONMOUJ1IS)
lIS. WATER SNAKES
There are five species of large Water Snakes native to Georgia and South Carolina-Eastern Green Water Snake (Nerodia floridaI/O), Brown Water Snake (Nerodia ta:Xispilota), Red-Bellied Water Snake (Nerodia elJ'throgtlSter), Banded Water Snake (Nerodiafascia/a), and Northem Water Snake (Nerotlia sipedoll). Adult

EllsJem Greel/ Wafer SIIake.
Water Snakes and Water Moccasins may be \'cl)' similar in :Ippearancc-both are both large, he-dvybodied species with rough Stales and relatively dull coloration. However, the following characteristics of bclmvior and appearancc should assist anyone interested in differentiating between the two: Rallge alld babitat... The first step in discerning "Is it a Waler Moccasin?" SllOUld be 10 refer 10 the disfribuliOlJ map Ihar iIluSlrolcs dle range of fhe Wmer Moccasin. Collectively, Waler Snakes can be found in C\'Cl)'colIlJl)'ofGeorgia and South Carolina, unlike the Water Moccasin, which does Ilot naturally occur in most of the northern half of either
Nfl/ICC (il/ green) ofthe lr(tferAIO/X<1S;1I (Cvtlol/lllomb) ill Georgia OlldSOllfb Carolina. !J1alecopllfllsurc illd;cnled bJ' red stars; //Iajor reser/,'(Jirs OllIS/fie ofthe Waler MO/X<1Si/,'s range arc asfoiIOlI'S: Ala~ Allatoolla; L-wke wl/ier; H---lBRe Hartwell; R---lBke Russell; G-la~ Greenu'OOl/; dI-I.oke !tI1lm1J'; W-Iralen>e Lal:e..

state. However, since distributions arc not static and snakes may be moved around intentionally or accidentally, physical features and behaviors of qucstionable snakes should also be examined. Although it is difficult to summarize the habitat preferences of these 1\....0 snakes, in general Watcr Moccasins do not prefer large, open reservoirs, whereas somc Watcr Snakcs do. Water Moccasins tend to inhabit slow-moving streams, swamps, and backwaters.
Basking behavior... Stories ofWmer ~'1occasins falling from high overhanging limbs into boats arc most likely b<lsed on misidentiOcations. W<lter Moccasins typically bask on land, stumps, or logs near the water surf,lce, and only oCc:Lsionally climb to low limbs when access is afforded by vines or a graduaUy sloping branch. Water Snakes are vClyagile climbers and spend a great deal of time basking on the limbs of shrubs and trees overhanging the water.
Wtller MQccasill~' (left) mrely climh. whereas Waler Snakes, like Ihis &mded Irater Snake (bollom), IJPica/ly hask on limhs lhal
bang Otl!T u'fIler.
Swimming belJavior. .. When disturbed, Water Moccasins either hold their ground or swim away; when swimming, their heads are usually clevaled above the water and their bodies appear overly buoyant, riding on, or nearly on, the water surface. Water Snakes, on the other hand, do not S\'~m high on the water, their heads are not elC\'ated, and they more typically swim below the surface. When Water Snakes

when they feel threatened, making it look triangular. However, the elliptical shape of the pupil (round in Water Snakes) and the presence of a pit between the eye and nostril (absent in Water Snakes) arc reliable characteristics of Water Moccasins.
A bea!-stl/lsillg "fiil" firese/lt ;/1 lfl1ler AJOCCIISills is absellt ill Water Snakes like the flam/cd lI''tlter Snake be/Oil!. Water Moccasil/S IIlso bal'#! elliptiCiIlpupils, /l'hereas 1101/-
WI/Of/lOllS Water Sl1akes hm't! rQlmdpUpils.
For atl,U/iollal ill/ormatioll 011 slIakes please cOllltlCI: Georgia Department of Natural Resources
Nongame-Endangered Wildlife Prognun 116 Rum Creek Olive ('o")'th, GA 31029 (478) 994-1438
This documeu! was a joil/t produclioll oj Ibe Georgia Deparlment oj !I'alural Resources !I'OI/game-Endal/gered Wilt/lift Program ant!tbe SavflIlllab Ri/ICr JJco/OJ.,.'I' t,(loomtDly. Text b)'jolmjenstJn (GADNll); Photos by David B. SeOfl (SREl) alldjolmjenSDn (GADNR); layOlit find design by Ltlllra L Janecek (SHBL).
The UnivmilyofGcorgia
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Irwter itlocctlS;IIICotlollmoul/J (Venomous) Do not occur naturally in most of northern GA and SC; bask on land or on logs and stumps near the water surface; S\\im with their heads elevated :l.bove the water and their bodies riding on the water surface; may vibratc thcir tails and gape their mouths when threatened; if banded, have bands that are widest on the sides and narrow on top; h:J\'e triangular heads ",ith elliptical eye pupils and a hem-sensing pit; and have a single row of scales on the underside of their lails.

Mult-banded

Adult-light phase

Water SlIakes (NOll- Vellomous)
Occur in a<lu3tic hllbitals throughout GA and SC; bask in limbs overhanging water; t~1llcally swim below lhe water surfacc; if banded, have bands lhal are widest on lOP and narrow on the sides; have round eye pupils; and have a double row of scales on the underside or lheir tails.

Northern

Ajtll.Y!llife lralerMoa:asill sujmmillg. Also j//llstmled is the IJpiwl
"bollrglass" IXllldillg pol/em.
are dislUrbed, they almost always flee by diving bene'dth the water.
lIe",ipositlollillg lid mOllth.gflPllIg behavior... Water Moccasins typicaUy keep their heads cocked at an
approximately 45 0 angle, and when thremenl->d will gllpe their mouth revealing the wlUtish inner lining. Although Water Snakes do 1I0t display either of these behaviors they, too, have whitish coloration in the mouth lining. Therefore, dead Water Moccasins Gumot be positively identified based solely on the color of their inner-mouth lining (Caution: Vcnom may remain fully toxic cvcn in dead snakes. It is best to leave dead snakes of uncertain identification alone).
Moulh-gape wi/milig behavior (iop right) alld bead allgle tJpica{ o/Water Moccasins,
n,l/vibratloll... In addition to mouth-gaping, Water MOCCllSins wiJJ often rapidly vibrate their tail whcn agitated or threatened. Allhough several other non-venomous snakes also exhibit this behavior (Black Racers, for example), Water Snakes do nol.

Irater SlItll:es, like ibis Northern Iraler SlItllN!, btWf! btl/Ills Ibtll (/re Idtkst OIl fO/1, IL'ben.'fI,f IrtllerMocCtisillS btltVJ bt/llds Ilxll are widest 01/ tbe sides,
Patte,." ... The two most common Water Snakes in Georgia ~md South Carolina, Bandcd and Northern, have bands that arc widest on top, Juvenile and patterned adult Water Moccasins havc "hollow" bands that are widest on thc sidcs ~md appear to be "hourglass shaped."
lJllderside 0/ tail... Water Moccasins have a single row of scales (similar 10 the belly scales) on the underside of their lail, while a double row of scales is present on Water Snakes (Caution: If uncertain as to species, scale chameteristics
should 200' be examined on dead snakes and shed skins).
WATER MOCCASIN
Single scale row
WATER S::.NrA\:,:KrETrr"h-~
Double scale rows
Head s/)ape alld features... The shape of the head is not a reliable way to differentiatc these species since Water Snakes am flare out their head