A Trip To Cottonmouth Island 

But we had so much fun!

These people are crazy to go into snake infested swamps with gators, me I would do away with every one I see!

U just scary lol the ppl in FL are wilder than the animals, we are fine w wild life

It make a feller feel safe,,,

Lol crazy

You're very welcome. Snakes have been unfairly maligned for far too long. Simply recognizing that they could pose a hazard, respecting that fact and exercising a bit of caution is more than enough to keep you, and the snake, out of harms way.

Damn right!!!

@@ashleighelizabeth5916 truth that

Just be happy you didn't hear what sounds like a pig squealing 😟

Where is this islan

@@wadelemon8199 we don’t share exact locations because sone people will kill venomous snakes when they find them

They've been coexisting for a long time.

Bwahahaha

Yes it is. While this video was filmed in Florida, a few weeks ago we posted a video touring Louisiana looking for herps.

We’d probably get a copyright strike for that.

I know right 8^)

Ha..

Im a Banjo player better run 😁😁✌

So true. They play a vital role in keeping rodents in check. Given a little space, and a bit of respect, they are also fascinating to observe.

Especially non-venomous snakes, which in fact keep venomous snake numbers controlled. A lot of non-venomous snakes will eat baby cotton mouths and baby rattle snakes, as well as their eggs.

Well they sure as hell are not needed anywhere I am! No hell no!

Michael Oliver I feel you.. I won't even go near one even if it was non venomous ,poisonous, or venomous. . i can't even even be around one period I will freak out... of fear...

Milo m ready to go anywhere with u

Chicken

The further north I can go, the better. If it were realistic for me to live in the Arctic circle, I would move there without reservations.

@John Porter I did it with my boss's account. Some things can not be unseen.

Yes, we enjoy exploring our world and all of it's fascinating inhabitants.

What did u expect from white people

Florida Man

@@pedropunjabi7339 I'm white and that was funny

Hillary, Barry. Comey , come stroll your new prison. no bars. no guards food, wine, will be choppered in daily, hope you enjoy your stay .

I have a pair of snake proof boots how come they are not wearing them they need to buy some they cost about one hundred and thirty dollars it's worth it being on that island full of snakes i grew up in Florida their is plenty of snakes

@Jay Mailloux I'm a Floridian and i wear snake proof boots when i go in the woods they cost about 130

@Jay Mailloux your very lucky lve been bitten twice boots saved my ass

@Jay Mailloux lucky you I've been bitten twice

@@shaynewhite4545 I'm 13 and haven't been bit yet. I usually go barefoot or use steel toe boots. Caught a pygmy rattlesnake 3 days ago.

Sharing The Outdoors oh, you mean they weren't chasing you down or dropping out of the trees into your canoe (said with tongue in cheek)?

Rebecca: I used to go herping with graduate students in TN. I found numerous cottonmouths and never had a problem with them. Just respected them and pretty much left them alone. I'm from WI, and the only venomous snakes we have up here are timber rattlers along the Mississippi. People get so stupid about snakes and other critters.

I wouldn't call it stupid so much as fearful and fear can cause irrationality. These snakes are venomous and although they might not be 'aggressive' they should be left alone and avoided.

Agent Fungus.

@Bill Barr I've been around countless cottonmouths, and the most aggressive I've ever seen one was to coil and display it's open mouth, in an effort to be respected and left alone. Which is what we did. Enjoyed our encounter, took video and pictures, turned our backs and walked away, without any chasing involved. We are not worried about old wives tails.

Thanks! Treated with respect, these animals are not really all that dangerous. Sounds like you have some really impressive specimens out your way!

Yes Hugh the old snakes get pretty fat

They are pretty neat to observe. Interesting creatures.

Not for everyone.

Yeah, IMO thinking you know what they are thinking or that seeing you doesnt have a chance of startling them is eco 101 fiction... ha, no thank you

That is very true. Copperheads tend to be more cryptic, as a cottonmouth will coil and display it's mouth as a warning, letting you know he's there, a copperhead just remains still, and will strike if need be.

That's great advice!

So true there is a creek that was by grandmother house it was full of cottonmouths had plenty small fish n minnows n frogs

this is very true .also rivers and creeks . i was walking a creek that had recently dried after a flood and estimated around 30 cotton mouths down a 70 yard stretch

I think alot of the time they're alone except in certain circumstances cause I've seen them here in Texas on numerous occasions and I've always seen them alone. And no I'm not one of those people who calls every water loving snake a moccasin I know the difference. We also have the texas banded watersnake which are more common

Daphane Mcconnell I used to live in a little swamp house in Barataria. All I had was a pierrot attached to the house in case of a hurricane. I hated being in the swamp in that tiny thing.

Gators won't bother you.

@Digby Dooright So,.. you got that going for you. Which is nice.

Don’t take me wrong I mean you know more about than me and I do agree that leave them alone let them crawl off because most people are bitten needlessly because they were trying to kill it or something. They should have let them just go on about their way. But I have heard of cotton mouth getting mad so what you are saying is most time we make them mad by messing with them. I try to stay away lol

No, they were all cottonmouth. Theres a good example of the Nerodia that closely resemble the cottonmouth in our video Herping Florid Cypress Swamps.

Where in Florida is this?

@@ericmanning8090 The central Florida swamplands

Not to worry. Cottonmouth will usually coil and remain motionless when approached, opening their mouth to expose it's bright white interior. In all probability the snake you encountered was one of the many species of water snake that are usually mistaken for cottonmouths.But it is always advisable to respect a snakes space and allow them a path to retreat on.

Exactly

Don’t worry. He’s a professional.....l.l.

Yes, this spot is a pretty extreme example.

I'd be more worried about gators than cottonmouths in this area. You know, they say the little ones are more dangerous. Adult snakes can control the amount of venom injected, sometimes even making a "dry" bite, where no venom is injected at all, just as a defensive measure. But the young ones have not developed that control mechanism, and usually inject all they have in them when they bite.

Sharing The Outdoors absolutely. I meant bitten - damn autocorrect. I've handled a hundred snakes & only 1 bite. I would love this trip. & you are right- I've heard & read that about younguns being unable to control their venom

😀 Wasn't all that bad.

Sharing The Outdoors Of course cottonmouths don't chase you down and bite you. I don't think that's what anybody that knows these snakes is saying. Where a lot of snakes will just try to get away from people a cottonmouth will stand their ground and if you get to close they will strike. If you say that's not true then you do not know these snakes. They are very aggressive for a snake and usually people get bit because they didn't see it and stepped too close to it. We have a lot of copperheads and cottonmouths here in SC.

Actually during certain times of year, Cottonmouths will chase you. Once you exit there territory, they stop. It’s not very large territory. If you haul ass you can get out of it. They can be territorial

CroFab and Anavip is not only extremely expensive and in short supply, but it is only used as a last resort for snake bites. In most cases, if you are bitten by a venomous snake, the immediate treatment is immobilization and elevation of the limb or affected area, and observation for about 8 hours. In many cases a defensive bite is a "dry" bite, and no venom is actually injected. Venom is a commodity in the natural world, used to obtain food, and not to be wasted. There is no way to tell how long someone would last from a snakebite. It all depends on if and how much venom the snake injected, where it bit you, and what type of snake it was. While a bite can result in nasty necrosis, a bite from any North American species of venomous snake is usually not fatal if you seek medical attention afterwards. A quick internet search estimates that of 7000 to 8000 people bitten every year by venomous by snakes, only 5 die. Still they should be respected. It's important to note that most bites are to the hand. That speaks volumes. Left alone, and given their space, their main defense is to flee. If you do that, watch your step, and don't try to pick them up, there is very little chance of ever getting bitten in the first place.

Just a fun afternoon in the park!

We've been around many cottonmouths in different regions of the south, and found just the opposite to be true. Left alone, they seem fairly docile to us.

@@SharingTheOutdoors i live near Mason-Dixon line in Maryland. As a kid i was fishing in a pond during mating season for Cotton mouths. I looked over and a big Cotton mouth came to the surface floating on top of the water,and was extremely pissed off that i was in its territory. It hissed and charged toward me at a fast pace. I grabbed my fishing box an ran. Maybe snakes are more mad up here cuz they only get 6-7 months of warm weather 🤣

We live in Maryland too. What you most likely saw was a Northern Water snake. There are no cottonmouths this far north. Southern Virginia is the northernmost extent of their range. Oh, and they don't come after you. A cottonmouth's primary defense is to coil and display the white interior of its mouth.

@@SharingTheOutdoors you know,your prob right..i dont recall noticing that white mouth that they have,but the snake was highly aggressive. In the Conowingo area,near the Dam,theres a million Copper heads. I heard old timers say in the south Water moccasins have actually bit people under water. Now everyone i know says thats not possible but according to a few old timers from down south its happened. Scary thought.

@@dwade6322 Cottonmouths (water moccasins) can bite when submerged. And yes, water snakes are very aggressive. I'm glad to hear there are lots of copperheads around. It means people are finally starting to learn not to kill every snake they see just because it's there.

I doubt it was out of aggression. Probably just heading in your direction in the first place.

No, Kris is correct. I’m also a fellow Arkansan. I’ve lived outside my entire life. You can’t film and watch them slither around down here. They’re extremely territorial and aggressive if you get close. It’s best to see one and be on your way around this small community.

Sorry, that's not possible. I created on Garage Band. While use of this material is granted to users on a royalty free basis, Apple owns all copyrights to the material and strictly prohibits second hand relicensing or stand alone redistribution in it's terms of use.

That's a two way street

LMAO

Sounds legit.

That can be true.

They are fascinating snakes.

Are you referring to that road in La Rue Pine hills that is closed twice a year so snakes can migrate?

@@Ryno-fp7pm yes

@@FFKDTP1 I never saw a single snake on that road. A little disappointed. The only moccasin I ever saw was on that gravel road to Turkey Bayou. It was giant.

Oh come on now. That might scare all those snakes down the road a bit, perhaps into your yard? LOL

Walk up on one with babies and see what happens. Bet she chases ur screaming lil ass

Yeah they were on land moron. What dont you hippies understand. I see these on every video. Also they are in huge party, not just one

I had 6 cottonmouths lined up protecting 6 puddles on a small trail between 2 swamp heads after getting out of a tree stand one morning. They would not let me pass them on the trail. Hissing, striking and just generally being difficult. I finally had to get an 8 ft tree limb and beat em back off the trail. Don’t tell me they aren’t aggressive.

@@webincomeincome8767 exactly

Don't think there are too many of those on this island!

@@SharingTheOutdoors boy if a few do cottonmouth is Doomed.

Check out our video Herping the Outer Banks. Barefoot beach goers have no idea how many cottonmouths inhabit that area, and they do from time to time wind up on the beach.

@@SharingTheOutdoors oh yes we do know, well those of us who grew up there know! Plenty of gators in the area too! But it's just a tiny bit easier to see either on a freaking sandy beach than it is on the forest floor. What y'all are doing is reckless. You can be as careful as you want but you have to be unlucky once for your whole day (and more) to get ruined. Steve Irwin didn't die of old age ya know?

@@ashleighelizabeth5916 These snakes are valued members of our ecosystem. This spot is very accessible to anyone who wants to rent a canoe and head out with a pick-nick lunch, perhaps this video will heighten their awareness of what they could encounter, and make them more aware of their surroundings. As far as reckless, no, adequate caution was used. No different than driving like the interstate system. You can be careful doing that too, but it just takes once to ruin everything. We can't live our lives in fear.

I'm with you on that!👍✌

Only if you're eating them, or it's an invasive species. If not you're just removing things very beneficial to the environment for absolutely no reason other than wanting to kill something. And I'm sure these guys would tell you the same thing

I think many of us have been "herping" since we were kids. Catching frogs and salamanders at the local pond. I really don't know if there are formal groups that go out, but there's definitely a fraternity that participates. You could probably find an online forum dedicated to herping in your area, and find a mentor to tag along with. But it's not all about venomous creatures. All snakes, reptiles are fascinating, and even venomous ones are safe to observe and photograph at a reasonable distance, but for sure don't handle anything that your not positive wont hurt you. Even a turtle can inflict a nasty wound.

+Andrew Farren Thanks! Great job getting folks educated about hers, lots of folks still think they are creatures to be feared, when all they really need is to be respected for the damage they can do when they are not.

U have herpies

I don’t wanna learn about herps

If you liked this one, we're planning to film "Journey to a Rattlesnake Den" later this year 8^)

That quiet thing is a tall order when your dealing with 8 or 10 people most of whom don't spend much time outdoors 8^)

@@SharingTheOutdoors not to mention the fact your trying to narrate the adventure! Hello!

@@SharingTheOutdoors most of these people don't spend much time in the outdoors? And you brought them to an island full of venomous snakes? I guess it's true the Lord looks after drunks, little children and fools.

Not really so dangerous, if you keep your distance, and do not try and handle the snakes, they just want to be left alone.

Well, thanks! Glad you enjoyed our video.

Your quite welcome. Not that we don't use due caution, simply being mindful of your surroundings and watching your step will usually keep you out of harms way, though we will wear snake boots if we are in overgrown areas and snake dens. It's funny that these views on venomous snakes are so pervasive, and I agree, there is not need to chop them up with a shovel or shoot them. When we choose to kill an animal, it is so we can eat it. That and defense of life are the only acceptable reasons for us, and these snakes pose not threat. I do understand why people do not want them in their yards and around their homes, but they can be easily removed and relocated with a snake hook.

Fuck all that bullshit y'all Talkin bout. A snake is the devils animal. No compassion for humans at all . I know of and heard of to many stories about these fuckers attacking people even kids for no reason. Bump that, I say kill all them bitches AS-AP.

Snakes are a creation of the Lord, just as much as the earth and Man. He has given us a choice on how to act though, and I would say there are many men who chose to become the Devils property through their words and actions. That is quite evident.

Yeah same as your drunk stepdad who used to touch you....

Yeah sure and then let the rat population increase because of your dumbass

Crocodiles might be a problem, but gators usually shy away from potential danger, and things larger than they are. As far as the snakes, most Florida swamps host large populations of cottonmouths, and it's not uncommon to come across a few even in suburban parks and popular birding trails that see large volumes of human traffic. We even encountered a large number of cottonmouths on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, videos on our channel here somewhere. The truth is, there are so many of them lurking just out of sight, if they were as dangerous and aggressive as most think they are, we wouldn't be able to go outdoors.

@@SharingTheOutdoors I've been known to fall out of kayaks and canoes. lol

@@chunga1958 That would present a few issues. Thanks for watching!

Shown respect, there is no danger from these snakes. They just want to be left alone. We often do wear snake boots in situations where we might accidentally step on one in brush, but conditions like that were not present here.

Why there just trying to get away from you don't be a dick head for no reason

@@slippinjimmy4239 Not blasting them away would be irresponsible and nuts. They serve no purpose.... Try getting bitten by one and going bankrupt with sky high medical bills and excruciating pain. Some animals and insects are absolutely useless and cause more harm than good

@@SharingTheOutdoors Are you serious? No danger??? These are highly venemous snakes that will put you in a world of pain. They do not think hey it's a human, just let them be. You are going to get seriously phucked up one day by these highly venemous snakes.

@@michaelh7527 they where here befor you they keep the rat population at bay and why would you get bit if you wernt trying to fuck with them

They would rather run away, and they will not chase you, but cornered, they will defend themselves with some of the nastiest venom found in the wild kingdom. Always be cautious when any venomous snakes are in the area

There are actually american crocodiles in Florida. I don't know that their behavior is as bad as Nile crocs, but they are still way more dangerous than alligators.

8^)

Sharing The Outdoors haha just kidding cool video👍🏼

bamadeadhead You in Bama?

Chris Gilliam live in GA, born and raised in Bama👍🏼👍🏼

Chris Gilliam 👍🏼👍🏼

Well thanks! If you notice, there were a few snake boots worn in this video, and while some of the folks did have flip flops on, the area was checked before anyone was put in harms way. It is because these snakes are so docile that there was no immediate danger to anyone after an area had been checked and the snakes located.

Just avoid Florida swamps, most have fair populations of cottonmouth!

LOL

That's understandable. It's an easy mistake to make when they exhibit the light coloration and people are used to the darker patterns in the south. We assure you it's a cottonmouth. Better examples of this light phase can be seen in. our video Herping The Outer Banks. We have some great shots of a young cottonmouth with this light pattern and yellow tail tip displaying with his mouth open and head back i9n the beginning, but the best one is at the end of the video.

Cottonmouth and copperheads have yellow tip Tails when they are juveniles that they use as a lure to attract p r e y! Copperheads have what looks like Hershey Kisses in their patterns cottonmouths don't.

@@richardhincemon9423 Indeed they do!

That is true. The nonvenomous snakes seem to strike much more readily than venomous snakes do.

And paddle faster !!! LOL. Thanks for watching!

Lol

There's really very little danger as long as you are aware of your surroundings.

Thanks! It was a fun day trip!

I wasn't with my sons when they filmed this, so I'm not sure where the location was.

No name. I composed that myself using software.

@@SharingTheOutdoors Well, I dig it!

@@garettpatria Awesome! Hey, thanks for watching, and listening too, as the case may be!

The Texas snake Hunter o r r y Martin chased by a nest of cottonmouths RU-vid!

LOL, probably don't want to be on the water much south of Virginia then!

I'm not exactly sure, my sons filmed this video. I wasn't with them on this trip.

They can be fast when they want to, that is true.In fact, the one that took off into the river was moving at a good clip. But after numerous encounters with cottonmouth snakes, I have found them to be more likely to remain still if approached, they tend to coil and flash the interior of their mouth when threatened, as opposed to trying to flee.

Great point! Down here in Florida in the winter months its about 75-80 highs and 40 or 50s lows..give or take and that winter peek around Jan or Feb... But summers it turns into the Amazon! The animals becoming bigger faster and way more aggressive! From fire ants to black bears! Gators to cayotes! Snakes to... You get my drift lol... Man even the grass seems to be on Viagra durring the summer!!!

We only need those when the cover is too thick to spot the snakes.

CatchingCreation Thanks! We enjoyed your video Life and Death in the Sandhills and your cottonmouth finds as well!

Sharing The Outdoors Thanks!!

Where's your sense of adventure? LOL

Sounds like our kind of place!

I've always liked swamps.

Yes, both species deserve caution and respect. We have encountered the American crocodile in Florida as well as the more common alligator.

Crocodiles only aggressive if you provoke them

It's very possible. People have claimed to see them, and not long ago a King Cobra got loose in Florida leading to an extensive search after it's owner reported it.. They found it after a month, so they can survive in the wild. Being so expensive and rare in the pet trade though, I doubt venomous species like that would have much of a chance of becoming established in the wild like pythons and other species of exotic wildlife that are more common and often released.

Never actually fished there. I'm sure there are fish in there, but you would probably have to keep the gators away after you hooked them LOL