Officially known as a cottonmouth snake, the water moccasin is a venomous and aggressive water snake usually found in the swampy areas of lakes, canals, and rivers. Their venom is extremely toxic and can kill its recipient by causing a hemorrhage where the poison is injected.
Out of the many snakes that live in Florida, there are only four types of venomous snakes in the state. In addition to water moccasins, Florida’s other venomous snakes include:
The inspiration of the phrase “red touch yellow, kill a fellow,” the colorful Eastern coral is Florida’s deadliest snake.
The biggest cause of venomous bites in Florida, rattlesnake species includes the pygmy, timber, and diamondback.
These venomous snakes are limited to the Northern Panhandle of the state.
It can often be easy to mistake a harmless water snake or a black racer with the deadly Cottonmouth. Water moccasins are black in color with pale bellies and can be identified by their pointy, triangle-shaped heads and large jowls that hold their venom glands. If you live near a reservoir or body of water, chances are a water moccasin lives nearby. If a water snake slithers onto your property, do not attempt to capture it on your own or you’ll find out the hard way whether it’s poisonous or not. Stay a safe distance away and contact the professional wildlife removal experts at Critter Control® of Orlando.
Our fully-licensed technicians possess the proper expertise and equipment to safely remove a snake from your property. If you’ve encountered a water moccasin in or around your house, contact Critter Control® of Orlando.