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Agkistrodon piscivorus - Cottonmouth
Red Slough, OK
There was a running debate that went on the entire time I was taking photos of this snake.
Friend: "Will, don't get so close, its a Cottonmouth" Me: "No it isn't, I'd know if it was a Cottomouth" This went on back and forth for about 10 minutes. Later, it was determined that my friends were right. I was 3 feet away from a Cottonmouth, bending down to get a better angle on it. Now, this might strike some as stupid, and I'd have to agree with them. Luckily I wasn't in too much danger, Cottomouths will make you sick, but they have none of the destructive charm of other vipers, such as the Rattlesnake.
