Large (2-4 feet in length with a very heavy body)

Color varies from solid brown or brown or yellow with dark crossbands

Juveniles have a yellow tail tip

Head is distinctly triangular (due to venom glands)

Characteristic threat display with the head in the middle of the coiled body with the mouth wide open (mouth is white on the inside, which explains the cottonmouth nickname)

Found in freshwater habitats, cypress swamps, river floodplains, and heavily vegetated wetlands

Found throughout the southeast, but are slightly more common in coastal regions

Venomous snakes

May bite if bothered

Peace of mind

Keep food sources away from the home

Use caution when around fresh water habitats

Preventative treatment with a product that snakes find repellent