Central Texas is home to a number of water snake species, but only one of them is venomous — the Western Cottonmouth, otherwise known as a water moccasin. Unfortunately, nonvenomous water snakes are often killed because they are mistakenly identified as cottonmouths and perceived as a life threat. We hope that our article below will give you tips on how to accurately identify Central Texas water snakes — and how to appreciate nature with a newfound knowledge of these fangtastic creatures!
Western Cottonmouth in Palmetto State Park east of San Antonio (Tom Spinker, Flickr)
Please be advised: It is not smart to inspect an unidentified snake up close, as it could easily feel threatened and attack. Please make our recommended observations from a safe distance of at least two meters, so as to prevent an unwanted pair of fangs from piercing the skin. Under the very rare and unfortunate circumstances that you or someone you know is bitten, medical attention should be sought out immediately. Whether the species is venomous or not, all snake bites should be assessed by a medical professional as quickly as possible to prevent a nasty infection.
POV: You’re out on a hike along the river and you spot what you’ve deduced is, in fact, not a stick floating in the water, but a water snake. Instead of immediately jumping to the likely false assumption that this is a cottonmouth, let us guide you through a series of questions to accurately identify the species.
