Between the snakes, mosquitoes, heat and banjo players, I wouldn't have much interest in being in there. I'll take the snow any day.

Snakes, mosquitoes, heat, no problem!....Banjo players are okay if they're related, and we all are, Lol.

Like already said, constantly watching

We have cottonmouths, timber rattlers and copperheads here.
Have not been bitten, YET

Water snakes have a bad attitude but the will only make you hurt yourself

If I need a tater rake to trap ...it's a Haahd NO

Gators have eaten most of our watersnakes - and beavers and nutrias, too. They evidently cant catch the otters - about the only water mammal I ever see now.

Was bass fishing years ago along the Chowan River in northeastern NC. Think it was May or June. Cypress trees out in the water was the pattern I was using. Fishing the shaded side of the trees with plastic worms that were cast against the trunk of the tree and then fell into the roots.

Got hung up on a root and couldn't seem to get free. A breeze moved the boat so I could not see the bait. Reached down to free it and put my hands around Mr. No Shoulders. Never did that again.

Could be in danger of a sunburn.

I watch out for these a little more than I do cottonmouths.

Jtrapper is right. Just the thought of those snakes will keep from sleeping well for a few days. I'll take our deep snow and cold weather any day, you keep those rotten snakes. My skin crawls just thinking of them.

I'm one of them banjer pickers, at least we know how to say creek. The least used sentence in the English language is,"There goes the banjer picker in his new Mercedes".I can tell ye some cottonmouth stories that will make ye have nightmares. I was beside a beaver dam back in a swamp and a cottonmouth hit me on the back of the boot about my calf. He just about knocked my foot out from under me. I didn't know they could hit that hard. He did not penetrate the hip boot. James Lord was tearing out a beaver dam and grabbed a stick and the stick moved in his hand, it was a cottonmouth. He didn't get bit. Most cottonmouths won't come after you, even though I have had a few to charge me, unprovoked. Yes, I have. They usually just lie right there with their mouth open.
I had one strike at me on Dec. 23, totally unprovoked. A rabbit hunter shot one in February right where I had just walked. I have seen them swimming under clear ice.. So to answer your question; it's not dangerous but you better watch where you stick your hands. Just stay alert and you'll be fine.

Rickey

Which part of North Carolina are Cottonmouths located. I can’t picture them being in the western part.

I worked the northeast part of NC. I worked the counties of Pitt, Martin, Beaufort, Washington, Bertie, Hertford, Gates, Chowan, Tyrell, Hyde, Perquimans and Northampton. Bertie was the worse for cottonmouths.

I been stomping around these alabama swamps 50 years. Trapping, coon hunting, camping, hiking, duck hunting, you name it. I been bit twice....once was a 6' gator I was trying to poach as a dumb - teenager (sorry swampwolf) and the other was a cotton mouth in a corn field. Lol. The gator I had by the tail, the snake was in a bundle of corn stalks I threw on my shoulder at least 1/2 a mile from any water.....dry summer. I used to catch cottonmouths for several years and a guy from Georgia would come by and milk them.

Had a friend come down from Indiana to pig hunt and we did it wading creeks through the palmetto flats. He was terrified! Lol. I'm in shorts, he's in waders with some kind of hard plastic wrap around snake guards in 100° heat. Never forget the sound of that plastic and palmetto leaves. He eventually shot a couple snakes and backed a hickory bow with them. Turned out beautiful. My advice is use common sense but my experience says use common sense. Lol. When I first started going north, I was shocked at the locals nonchalant attitude with wolves and bears. Now I'm right at home in mn or al. Take precautions if you like, but don't let it ruin your experience.

Interesting thread!

Never mind the cottonmouths. If you hear banjos ~ paddle faster!

I thought I was the only one that had rivers and landmarks move on me.

So how bad is the venom from cotton mouths? What's the treatment, recovery time and any lasting affects?

Worked with some boys from the Australian air force and we got talking about the different animals. They where convinced there was a bear around every tree because that's all they saw about Canada on TV. I was convinced there was a snake/spider in every hidey hole in Australia because that's what I saw on TV. Still take dealing with a mad bull moose(had more trouble with them over the years then bears) over snakes......at least you can see the bull moose coming.

I hate poisonous snakes. I don't have all the details memorized like some of the rest of you.

Saskfly,
Treatment may involve antivenin (with a positive snake ID) and likely a short hospital stay. Some folks have allergic reactions to the antivenin. Also, some people may be affected more by the venom than others. Venom is strong protein...so strong that your body rejects it...hence it is "poisonous." Folks with weak circulatory & immune systems are more likely to suffer serious effects from a cottonmouth bite. Cottonmouth venom is considered mostly hemotoxic (affect the blood, bloodstream, and other parts of the circulatory system....and potentially nervous system damage.

Of the six hots in Georgia ranked in order.

Eastern Coral, most dangerous venom neurotoxic. Least dangerous as far as bites. Very shy snake and uncommonly found. Actual bites very rare and usually a result of handling one.

Toss up Eastern Diamondback/Timber. Diamondback for amount of venom delivered. Timber for sheer toxicity. Our Georgia Timbers have the most virulent venom found in the species containing both hemo and neuro toxic components. Northern and western timbers while still dangerous have less virulent venom.

I'll give this one to the Timber as it is found statewide vs the Diamondback which is restricted to the lower third of the state and declining in numbers.

Pygmy goes here based on toxicity but dosage is low based on size. Bites uncommon as while they are nominally found statewide populations are scattered being locally common in some locations to rare or absent in others.

Moccasin aka Cottonmouth slightly more toxic than it's cousin the Copperhead and capable of delivering a larger dose. Not present in the north Georgia mountains only found south of Atlanta and up the Coosa River drainage.

Copperhead least virulent of all our hots but most commonly encountered and most common envenomation as it is found statewide and does well in urban environments unlike Timbers that are extirpated from areas of urban development. Deaths are exceedingly rare from Copperheads and require minimal treatment compared to others. Still medically significant and treatment should be sought.

Treatment for any bite is seek immediate treatment. Do not cut, suck or tourniquet go straight to the ER. Protocol now is observation and antivenom and supportive treatment if so indicated. Diamondback and Timber will require antivenom. There is a concern of potential reaction to antivenom hence the observation and treat as needed vs pushing antivenom as first response for all bites. Dry bites do occur as well.

Crofab antivenom is formulated to be effective for all five pit vipers. Coral requires it's own antivenom. Antivenom does not have to be stored at the local ER as modern rapid response can get it flown in as needed from central storage.

Recovery varies based on severity as does long term effect. As pit viper venom is hemotoxic and basically acts as a predigestive process the longer term effects mostly stem from necrotic and tissue damage around the site of the bite to systemic damage to tissues. The bigger and more toxic Diamondback and Timber being more likely to incur more damage.

And if bitten do not try to collect the snake to bring to the ER. Secondary envonmations have occurred attempting to do so. Bite marks usually will suffice to determine which type of snake. Take a photo if you can but do not delay medical treatment to do so.