I am not too good at figuring out patterns.  Some of them look really similar to me when I google it.  This is in NW Florida.  He is about 18-24 inches long.
Definately no rattle.

Looks like a copper head?

copperhead

Copperhead.

Don't try to pick it up.

That's not a copperhead, it is a cottonmouth.

one that needs to die

Quoted: That's not a copperhead, it is a cottonmouth.

i agree, but either way don't touch the fucker.

That sir is a Cottonmouth.  Kill it with extreme prejudice.

It's one or the other.  Looks big for a Copperhead.

Agkistrodon piscivorus conanti

AKA Florida Cottonmouth

ETA: One that needs killin.

It is definitely not a copperhead, it is a cottonmouth.

Well, it's gone now.  It slithered out the door.  I came in to load up some bird shot and he boogied.  Eyes will be peeled.

opossum

I stand corrected. I thought Cottonmouths were a little darker in color.

There are no endangered snakes in Florida, there are no threatened snake species in Florida.....there is NO shortage of snakes in Florida.

If you see one just kill the fucker. There are ten more waiting to take his place.

I recommend 1 round of .22lr to the dome.

Here's my rattler from last weekend.




ETA: I see you let it escape.

Quoted: I stand corrected. I thought Cottonmouths were a little darker in color.

They can be almost black.  Kind of like an oreo I guess.

Quoted: There are no endangered snakes in Florida, there are no threatened snake species in Florida.....there is NO shortage of snakes in Florida. If you see one just kill the fucker. There are ten more waiting to take his place.

Not correct.

Quoted: Quoted: There are no endangered snakes in Florida, there are no threatened snake species in Florida.....there is NO shortage of snakes in Florida. If you see one just kill the fucker. There are ten more waiting to take his place. Not correct.

No?

Unless you're talking about that one damn water snake there are no threatened or endangered snakes in Florida, and certainly not any venomous ones.

Quoted: Quoted: There are no endangered snakes in Florida, there are no threatened snake species in Florida.....there is NO shortage of snakes in Florida. If you see one just kill the fucker. There are ten more waiting to take his place. Not correct.

Indigo snakes are pretty rare.  

+1 on being a cottonmouth.

Here is a pic I took of a Copperhead a few weeks ago on a hike.  Note the lighter color, around here anyway. (Didn't have the camera with me, Blackberry had to fill in...)

Article


Florida Banded Watersnake




Scientific name: Nerodia fasciata pictiventris

Description: Adults average from 24-42 inches (61-106.7 cm). The record is 62.5 inches (158.8 cm). Stout bodied snake with broad black, brown, or red crossbands over most of body. The lighter narrower bands are tan, gray, or reddish and may contain a dark spot on the side. The light bands may be broken by a black strip down the middle of the back. Crossbands may be obscured as snake darkens with age. Belly is creamy yellow with wormlike red or black markings. Scales are keeled and there are 23-27 dorsal scale rows at midbody. The pupil is round. A dark stripe extends from the eye to the angle of the jaw. Juveniles have very clear red or black crossbands on light background.

Range: In Florida, this subspecies is found throughout the peninsula, excluding the Florida Keys. Outside the state it occurs in extreme southeastern Georgia and has been introduced to Brownsville, Texas.

Habitat: The Florida banded watersnake can be found in nearly all freshwater habitats, preferring the shallow waters of swamps, marshes, ponds, lakes, streams, and rivers.

Comments: . When threatened, the Florida banded watersnake defends itself by biting and smearing its tormentor with a foul smelling musk. Active mainly at night, but may be found during the day sunning on banks or on vegetation hanging over the water. Feeds on live or dead fish, frogs, and aquatic invertebrates. The Florida banded watersnake bears live young. Mating occurs mid-winter to spring and litters of 20-30 young are born in late spring through summer. The young are 7.5-10.5 inches (19-26.6 cm) at birth.

Comparison with other species: The brown watersnake (Nerodia taxispilota) has squarish dorsal blotches along its entire body. The midland water snake (Nerodia sipedon pleuralis) has fewer than 30 darker brown crossbands near the neck, which break up into alternating blotches further down the body, and the belly is yellowish marked with two rows of half moons.

Florida banded watersnakes are harmless, though they have a mouth full of teeth and will bite viciously to defend themselves. Because they are found around bodies of water, watersnakes often are killed in the mistaken belief that they are the venomous cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus conanti). Since cottonmouths can easily be distinguished from watersnakes there is no excuse for killing watersnakes out of confusion.  The cottonmouth has a triangular shaped head and a vertical pupil. If the head is viewed from above, the eyes of cottonmouths cannot be seen while the eyes of watersnakes are visible; cottonmouths have elliptical pupils and watersnakes have round pupils; and cottonmouths have a facial pit between the nostril and the eye, while watersnakes have none.


Juvenile Florida banded watersnake.

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: There are no endangered snakes in Florida, there are no threatened snake species in Florida.....there is NO shortage of snakes in Florida. If you see one just kill the fucker. There are ten more waiting to take his place. Not correct. No? Unless you're talking about that one damn water snake there are no threatened or endangered snakes in Florida, and certainly not any venomous ones.

Yeah from what I have heard FL is great for snakes. In fact people pet pythons are getting out and establishing breeding colonies, and eating everything they can in the meantime.

Is this snake in or around your property? Cause if it was I would definately kill it.

Do Cottonmouths den? Is so that could be a really bad thing.

Whatever it was it just came around the corner of the house and met Mr. 870.  DEAD.  Pics to follow.

Head didn't look like that watersnake.

LOLsnake???

I was on a float trip with a buddy of mine, we stopped and decided to wander up a creek to look for a cave.  My buddy caught a huge cottonmouth with his bare hands.  I asked him what he planned on doing with it since the are venomous.  He looked at me like this .  After checking it out for a while he just gave it a toss into the weeds.  He's pretty crazy, but has handled a lot of snakes.  If he had been bit though we would have had to hike back to the canoe and then paddle quite a few miles to my truck then make a couple of hour drive to a hospital.  It  wouldn't have turned out well.

water moccasin.  Copperheads bands are usually a little more shaped like a hershey kiss while a moccasin bands are a little more squared.  Look pretty damn similar though.  Either way, poisonus.

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: There are no endangered snakes in Florida, there are no threatened snake species in Florida.....there is NO shortage of snakes in Florida. If you see one just kill the fucker. There are ten more waiting to take his place. Not correct. No? Unless you're talking about that one damn water snake there are no threatened or endangered snakes in Florida, and certainly not any venomous ones.

Eastern indigo snake, short-tailed snake, and Atlantic salt-marsh snake just off the top of my head.  I'd also be surprised if rainbow snakes weren't protected.  Eastern diamondbacks will likely make the list eventually.

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: There are no endangered snakes in Florida, there are no threatened snake species in Florida.....there is NO shortage of snakes in Florida. If you see one just kill the fucker. There are ten more waiting to take his place. Not correct. No? Unless you're talking about that one damn water snake there are no threatened or endangered snakes in Florida, and certainly not any venomous ones. Yeah from what I have heard FL is great for snakes. In fact people pet pythons are getting out and establishing breeding colonies, and eating everything they can in the meantime. Is this snake in or around your property? Cause if it was I would definately kill it. Do Cottonmouths den? Is so that could be a really bad thing.

Cottonmouths do not den up.

tag for pics!

Quoted: Whatever it was it just came around the corner of the house and met Mr. 870.  DEAD.  Pics to follow. Head didn't look like that watersnake.

Cool. It was definitely a cotton mouth (water moccassin.)

It would FUCK YOU UP!

Quoted: Article Florida Banded Watersnake www.flmnh.ufl.edu/natsci/herpetology/fl-guide/bm-nfpic01.jpg Scientific name: Nerodia fasciata pictiventris Description: Adults average from 24-42 inches (61-106.7 cm). The record is 62.5 inches (158.8 cm). Stout bodied snake with broad black, brown, or red crossbands over most of body. The lighter narrower bands are tan, gray, or reddish and may contain a dark spot on the side. The light bands may be broken by a black strip down the middle of the back. Crossbands may be obscured as snake darkens with age. Belly is creamy yellow with wormlike red or black markings. Scales are keeled and there are 23-27 dorsal scale rows at midbody. The pupil is round. A dark stripe extends from the eye to the angle of the jaw. Juveniles have very clear red or black crossbands on light background. Range: In Florida, this subspecies is found throughout the peninsula, excluding the Florida Keys. Outside the state it occurs in extreme southeastern Georgia and has been introduced to Brownsville, Texas. Habitat: The Florida banded watersnake can be found in nearly all freshwater habitats, preferring the shallow waters of swamps, marshes, ponds, lakes, streams, and rivers. Comments: . When threatened, the Florida banded watersnake defends itself by biting and smearing its tormentor with a foul smelling musk. Active mainly at night, but may be found during the day sunning on banks or on vegetation hanging over the water. Feeds on live or dead fish, frogs, and aquatic invertebrates. The Florida banded watersnake bears live young. Mating occurs mid-winter to spring and litters of 20-30 young are born in late spring through summer. The young are 7.5-10.5 inches (19-26.6 cm) at birth. Comparison with other species: The brown watersnake (Nerodia taxispilota) has squarish dorsal blotches along its entire body. The midland water snake (Nerodia sipedon pleuralis) has fewer than 30 darker brown crossbands near the neck, which break up into alternating blotches further down the body, and the belly is yellowish marked with two rows of half moons. Florida banded watersnakes are harmless, though they have a mouth full of teeth and will bite viciously to defend themselves. Because they are found around bodies of water, watersnakes often are killed in the mistaken belief that they are the venomous cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus conanti). Since cottonmouths can easily be distinguished from watersnakes there is no excuse for killing watersnakes out of confusion.  The cottonmouth has a triangular shaped head and a vertical pupil. If the head is viewed from above, the eyes of cottonmouths cannot be seen while the eyes of watersnakes are visible; cottonmouths have elliptical pupils and watersnakes have round pupils; and cottonmouths have a facial pit between the nostril and the eye, while watersnakes have none. www.flmnh.ufl.edu/natsci/herpetology/fl-guide/nfpic01.jpg Juvenile Florida banded watersnake.

That ain't it OPs snake is a cottonmouth.

Quoted: That's not a copperhead, it is a cottonmouth.

This!

- Clint

tag for pics of Mr. 870 damage.

Cottonmouth. I'd kill the bastard- they don't taste half bad.

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: There are no endangered snakes in Florida, there are no threatened snake species in Florida.....there is NO shortage of snakes in Florida. If you see one just kill the fucker. There are ten more waiting to take his place. Not correct. No? Unless you're talking about that one damn water snake there are no threatened or endangered snakes in Florida, and certainly not any venomous ones. Eastern indigo snake, short-tailed snake, and Atlantic salt-marsh snake just off the top of my head.  I'd also be surprised if rainbow snakes weren't protected.  Eastern diamondbacks will likely make the list eventually.

Hey ya know you were right....these are the endangered or threatened species of snake in Florida....

key ringneck snake Eastern indigo snake red rat snake Atlantic salt marsh water snake Florida pine snake short-tailed snake Florida brown snake rim rock crowned snake Florida ribbon snake

And I still say kill at will. Fuck a snake.

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: There are no endangered snakes in Florida, there are no threatened snake species in Florida.....there is NO shortage of snakes in Florida. If you see one just kill the fucker. There are ten more waiting to take his place. Not correct. No? Unless you're talking about that one damn water snake there are no threatened or endangered snakes in Florida, and certainly not any venomous ones. Eastern indigo snake, short-tailed snake, and Atlantic salt-marsh snake just off the top of my head.  I'd also be surprised if rainbow snakes weren't protected.  Eastern diamondbacks will likely make the list eventually.

Good. They can all die.

IBTPTSSAIFTE (in before the people that say snakes are important for the ecosystem)

Pin its head down with a stick, grab it right behind its head and drown it.

Makes a nice skin and then eat it

I shot a cottonmouth last week in my garden, I almost stepped on him before running back in the house and grabbing the AR....one less cottonmouth

Florida Cottonmouth info/ID

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: There are no endangered snakes in Florida, there are no threatened snake species in Florida.....there is NO shortage of snakes in Florida. If you see one just kill the fucker. There are ten more waiting to take his place. Not correct. No? Unless you're talking about that one damn water snake there are no threatened or endangered snakes in Florida, and certainly not any venomous ones. Eastern indigo snake, short-tailed snake, and Atlantic salt-marsh snake just off the top of my head.  I'd also be surprised if rainbow snakes weren't protected.  Eastern diamondbacks will likely make the list eventually. Good. They can all die. IBTPTSSAIFTE (in before the people that say snakes are important for the ecosystem)

I am sure you are about to present us all the biology papers and journal articles that demonstrate that they aren't.

Yep, still a cottonmouth.

Growing up as a kid in Louisiana and Georgia, I remember killing Water Moccasins with 20 gauge shotguns during the summer.  Man were those things aggressive, I have been chased by more than one.

Snakes are really important to the ecosystem, gators, opossums, coons and other critters eat the shit out of dead ones.

BTW, I have no problem helping the endangered snakes toward their end goal...they apparently were not hardy enough to make the cut.

Quoted: img.photobucket.com/albums/v324/cbsaf/P1010014.jpg

The rare headless copperhead!

Quoted: That sir is a Cottonmouth.  Kill it with extreme prejudice. i3.photobucket.com/albums/y82/DVR9/cottonmouth3666a.jpg

then clean it and cook it

Pit Viper = your death or his

No, I don't know a damn thing about snakes... and wish I knew less!

Quoted: img.photobucket.com/albums/v324/cbsaf/P1010014.jpg

Damn.

Quoted: Pit Viper = your death or his

Not correct.

One that needs a hole

ETA: ... and has a rather large new hole