Karl and Kathleen Nichter Photography



This blog began in 2009, about a year after we started our photography business. People attending our photo exhibits, or our hikes and workshops, asked for details on where we traveled for photography. As naturalists we usually kept a field journal, so we used that as a basis for Field Notes.
In Summer, 2014 we took a break from the blog because our business, and lives were changing. In January 2015 the blog restarted with an expanded theme. It now contains photography, notes, and articles from all of our travels and all of our photography, not just nature themed. The posts prior to 2014 have been archived.

For more information, please click on "About Us" below.

Thank you for visiting.

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Naturalist Notes: Cottonmouth or Water Moccasin Snake

People often ask about poisonous snakes when we lead photography nature hikes. First, we explain that the term is venomous. The snake injects venom. Poisonous occurs when you eat or ingest something that makes you ill.

In Florida, especially in the wetlands, the most popular and most feared is the Water Moccasin, or Cottonmouth. The mouth, when wide open, appears cottony, hence the nickname.


Karl saw this Water Moccasin curled up near a boardwalk, and took the photograph. The coloring, large body size, and triangular-shaped head help in the identification. Unlike most other snakes, the Cottonmouth rarely moves away when approached.

The bite from this snake will land you in the hospital, and can be fatal. I recommend not disturbing it, and photographing, as Karl did, from a safe distance with a telephoto lens.
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