How dangerous is it to trap in southern waterways

that have cottonmouths in them. Or do you even go into the water to trap.

Not at all if you grew up knowing to keep an eye peeled for them. You learn to never stick a body part anywhere that hasn't been visually examined. Moccasins are by nature not at all aggressive they just don't give a dam and will hold tight expecting you to go around.

Gators on the other hand can give a guy the willies.

I did it for thirty years, and never got bit. I recall one large dam in a new site that I started walking on. I noticed movement, and there was a cottonmouth. I shot it, and then there was movement everywhere. That first day I shot 17 and the second day I shot 11 of them on that dam. The last time I worked that site many years later, I didn't see a single one.
They just added another challenge factor to trapping amongst them. After a while I developed a snake sense and a keen vision for them. Although a green military sandbag laying in the weeds would alert me too, because the weave was similar to the skin of a cottonmouth. I used my tater rake to pick up everything. i didn't reach for anything with my hands. I didn't fear them, I was just careful.

When I went south I was told to never stick my hands anywhere Un till I first checked things out. I trapped In the south for 15 years during the months of Jan and Feb and I might have seen 2 or 3 cotton mouths. It was still a bit cold for them to be out.

Dangerous? Nah!

Potentially dangerous? Yep!

And there was the time when I was in a ditch nor more than four feet wide. A log had fallen into the ditch creating a perfect choke point for a snare. As I was working on getting the snare set up, the hair on the back of my neck bristled. I turned and not five feet behind me was a big old cottonmouth with it's head raised up and it's mouth wide open. A whack with the tater rake took care of it. About dirtied my drawers with that episode.

And there was the time when I was raking out a beaver dam. I happened to look down, and there was a big old cottonmouth crawling over the toe of my boot. That was another episode where my drawers were in jeopardy of being soiled.

I’ve backpacked thru the highest grizzly density areas carrying loads of stinky marten bait,,,,,and had some encounters


These snake stories freak the crap out of me

I have been wading in a stock pond giging frogs in April and May and have had them swim out after me and they were not wanting to play. They are not easy to gig when they coming at you. Wish I I had a video of it afterwords but it was not funny at the time.

ya'll going to cause poor ol mad dog Gary to wet the bed tonight, lol.

I start telling cottonmouth story's we'll be here all night!

I've had so many encounters that there is not enough bandwidth on Tman to post them all. Would lock up the internet.

You Southern boys can keep those nasty things down there. We don't want them up here!

Anyone been bitten?

When you clean out a pipe, you have to be careful your not pulling out a moccasin, same for dams, I have had them to come out of the dam while clearing a hole, always and I mean always look before you step or grab anything.not so bad in dead of winter, but this time of the year, they will come out to warm on sunny warm days.

I’ll take poison ivy over snakes any day!

Well, we have that, too. The most dangerous thing is the ice. The 1/8 to1/4 inches of ice is not quite enough to support you vechile and barely enough to support yourself. Many times I have broken through and ended up in ankle deep ice water.

Haven't seen many while trapping animals. Down here a lot of people mistake the common water snake for a cottonmouth. But while crawfishing I have seen dozens. Even grabbed a baby that was coiled around the string on my trap. Thank goodness it was still cold out or that would have been a bad day. During the end of crawfish season when the water is low your boat gets stuck a lot so your in foot high lillies up to your waist more than your in the boat. Never had an issue and I'm not like most I don't shoot them I think it's bad luck. I've asked a few fisherman over the years if getting bit is a life flight deal they said you ride back to the landing put the boat on the trailer and drive to the hospital that's an hour away. Around here the worste I've heard of is someone losing a finger.

If there ain't snakes there ain't frogs. lol.

If you think about it, most of our outdoor activities have the potential for danger.
We are usually alone. Could have a major medical emergency or injury. If it's not snakes or hornets it could be bears, falling through ice or frostbite. I've never been lost but there have been a couple times when somebody moved a river or railroad tracks and didn't tell me.
We all may have to deal with animal rights activists.

There ain't nothing like looking eye to eye with a cottonmouth on a high creek bank. You definitely pick your battles with those suckers.
Run in to this big boy last March make some beaver sets.

A friend I sometimes trap beaver with was bit twice by cottonmouths, both bites within a 2 week time frame.

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.

Great post, good info warrior. Always keep an eye out when trapping. Even when we have freezing weather, a couple days in the 60s, you may see some moving. A November to February trapping season avoids most snake activity, and works around busier farm times. I don't warm weather beaver trap unless it's a serious problem.

You ain't just whistling Dixie.
Rickey

Easiest way to avoid them, don’t look for them. Cottonmouths are probably our most common venomous snake where I hunt/trap/fish. Only been struck once and it hit the boot. Wasn’t the snakes fault really, I stepped on him in some high grass. Really wasn’t the place I expected a cottonmouth either. I see most on land vs water. If anyone says they chase you or come after you, then they encountered one of our water snakes and NOT a cottonmouth. Unless you step on them or try to grab one, they pretty much will just show you their namesake and let you back on off.

There’s been several times walking to the deer stand I’ll look down and see that “cotton” mouth opened up. If you’re close enough you hear their tail vibrating as well. I’ve heard that and started looking to find the snake. Even at night while thermal hunting, that white open mouth stands out.

Not sure what’s happened to all our Diamondbacks, but I’ve yet to see one on the property I hunt/trap/fish/work. Only seen a couple Timber Rattlers in 6-7yrs. Only see a few Copperheads as well. About the only benefit to having hogs roam through is the snakes they eat. I can’t speak for the rest of the State or country, but if you encounter snakes in a swamp you’re hog hunting, there ain’t any hogs.

I think Gators are more curious than anything else…except during nesting season. Mommas get real mad real quick. I’ve waded swamps to get to gobbling birds and had gators follow, but never get aggressive. Now encountering one on land is a little different, guess they feel vulnerable and will quickly let you know they mean business and you don’t want to find out, lol.

I wear snake boots almost year round, so I really don’t pay anything much attention. The only time I might get a little nervous about water is when my upper body is level with the creek bank. I’d think getting bit in the face or upper body would be worse than the lower extremities, but I’m not a medic, so who knows.

I'm not scared of banjo music. Reptiles are whole different story.

As with anything else ....the more you put yourself in a potentially dangerous situation the odds start increasing against you.

Beaver trapping December thru February in the deep South = you'll likely not even see/encounter one.

Beaver trapping March thru November in the deep South = you'll likely see several....up close.

I checked the list of people killed by cottonmouth snakes
Only possible one in 2015 and actual cause of death was undetermined because the Guy was full of opioids.
Getting killed by a gator is much more likely than by a cottonmouth snake,but still pretty low compared to a lot of other things like driving.

Death from the bite is not my primary worry. It's the medical bills that will follow. Yes..I have health insurance, but that deductible and co-pay would probably be $10,000 or more...out of my pocket...

Said the paranoid, girly boy trapper

who is: " Afraid to Wade" !!!

w

I just sat down with a drink after checking traps all day and I read the above statement. I spit my drink all over the screen,

Seriously? Maybe because I live in a swamp and a commercial alligator hunter I really don’t worry about a congo (Cajun French for cottonmouth). It’s just a snake. Just like I don’t really worry about alligators. Heck today I probably saw over 30 cocodrille ranging from three up to 10 feet. There were all sorts of snakes sunning today. I trap in and around bears. I have wild hogs to deal with. It’s part of trapping down here. If anyone down here is scared of getting in the water they ain’t going to get much done. When the mink, otters, beavers and nutria are out in force I might run up to 200 traps a day and most of them I have to either wade or work out of pirogue. Right now I’m gearing up for crawfish and anyone who has ever set crawfish traps with tell you, you ain’t seen snakes till you run crawfish traps. But again, if you are afraid of a congo you ain’t making no money on crawfish.

I have not been bitten by a congo but when I was about 13 I got bit by a cane break rattlesnake while setting traps. My fault as I didn’t look before I reached in on a nutria trail to set a B&L 1 ½ long spring. It was not pleasant.

Even my wife laughed at this. She said, "How would we get anything done around here?"

If you are trapping for fur, you should be trapping Nov to end of Feb. For the most part they are dormant then although on warm days they like to come out to sun themselves. Just watch where you step and put your hands. Don't get in a hurry, Today the alligators were out in the back.

great read guys, myself I don't like any snake, but it would never stop me from anything,

That is not entirely correct. I absolutely know the difference between water snakes and cottonmouths. Yes, I most certainly have had a few cottonmouths come after me striking the air.

Rickey

Yep. That happened about 10 miles upriver from me on The James River. A place called Deleware Town. Guy was wading in the river and got tagged in both legs. Hobbled up out of the river and had his girl friend drive him home, where, he laid down to rest and then woke up the next morning dead. Didn't make it through the night.
They say he had such a toxic mix of alcohol, hydrocodone and opioids in him they couldn't pinpoint what species of snake bit him. But they suspect it was a cottonmouth.
The story was that he didn't go to the emergency room because he didn't have insurance but the local chatter was that he knew he would be drug tested and of course he was on parole.
I've fished that river for over 50 years and not had any serious problems. Just use common sense. On hot summer nights mouths sometimes like to craw up in willows hanging out over the river. Had one get in the boat with me one night when I was running limb lines. It ended good though.
'

Depends how far south you go really. Cottonmouths are around most of the south but down towards Warrior’s way you have to be wary of them swamp lizards. Snakes are one thing but a hungry 13ft gator is a whole different ballgame.

I'm north by a few miles of gator country and actually on the very edge of moccasin. Beaver work north of me is moccasin free, to the west or south I gotta keep my eyes peeled.
The occasional gator pops up here wandering up but I really got to get down to Macon to start seeing them.

Jerry has never seen an aligator in MS in all the time hes trapped in Mississippi and he's trapped Louisiana also.
I think the guy in Louisiana told.him aligators don't move until.the water temp reaches 70.

He saw one.snake this year..it was a regular water snake.

Ya.gotta trap as soon you can after deer and duck season go out to avoid them.
.

Really interesting guys and thanks for answering my questions. I hear venomous snake and assume your dead in 30 mins or less!!

Hats off to you, not being used to it the whole thing gives me the creeps..........