Pictures are Better Than The Finds

[Nana40]

I went to the park yesterday and found a few coins and a cheap necklace. Stayed a little over an hour. I think I have hunted this place out! This afternoon my son called and asked if Charlie and I wanted to go fishing at Locust Fork river. Sounded like fun to me, so we packed up and headed on over. They fished and I detected all the fishing weights. :P

While digging around, Charlie yelled for me to bring the camera. I looked up and saw a big fish just jumping around like crazy! I ran to the truck and grabbed the camera and got back to the bank just in time to see this HUGE snake dragging a big 'ole catfish onto a rock! The first pic is for perspective so's you can see the size of the river. That fisherman is my son. He had waded across to the other side...

This snake was on the other side of the river from us. He had to have been close to, if not over five feet long..

notice his tail wrapped around the rock to the left...

What an exciting thing to experience! I'm not quite sure what kind of snake this is, so any thoughts welcomed.
Nana

 

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[Skrimpy]

I've been studying reptiles (and snakes in particular) for over 30 years and that's definitely a northern water snake. They can get to 5' in length (although snakes of that size are normally a bit darker than this one) and, despite the name, they're actually very common in Alabama. The pattern on a copperhead is quite a bit different (less banded and more like patches). Anyway, google pictures of each and you'll be able to see what I mean.

If he's been studying them for thirty years I would yield any of our opinions to this guys but I would still avoid the thing. I five foot snake is going to have big fangs and they WILL hurt going into your skin.

 

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[Timberwolf]

Nana,
The pics are nice, except for that reptile
Nice shots.

Timberwolf

 

[Old Dog]

I agree with Hollowpointred,

Ive seen water moccasins that looked a lot like that when hey had just shed their skin.
As a kid we just had to catch one for the thrill of it, it took a herpetologist to Id it at the Local college.

OD

 

[Skrimpy]

I agree with Hollowpointred,

Ive seen water moccasins that looked a lot like that when hey had just shed their skin.
As a kid we just had to catch one for the thrill of it, it took a herpetologist to Id it at the Local college.

OD

Are you CrAzY!?!?! You caught a Cottonmouth?!?! Holy schnieke your lucky your alive!

 

[bookfisher]

I'm glad we don't have them on Long Island!

 

[jddave79]

I would guess cotton mouth ...copper heads usually don't get that big. my buddies ran across a cotton mouth fishing here in NC not too long ago about that size. I'll see if i can get a pic from him.
-JD in WV

 

[Old Dog]

Didn't find out untill I had kids of my own just how big a worry I was to my folks.

Did some really stupid things.

OD

 

[72chev]

The only thing better would have been video of the event! I hope the youngster saw enough to learn caution and respect for what is in your neighborhood.

 

[Treasure Tom]

Wow Nana! Interesting story and photos of the snake! Thanks for cleaning all the fishing weights out of the river.

Tom

 

[Nana40]

Me too OD.
After I read your reply Chevy, I thought...'why didn't I?' This camera has a setting for video! We just didn't think to use it. :P

Years ago when Charlie and I first married, there was a creek behind the house we lived in. While there one day, we saw a rattlesnake catching a fish. I never knew rattlesnakes frequented the water till then.

That's a GREAT picture, Tater!

I was always told not to kill the black snakes cause they eat the rattlers, and don't kill the rattlers cause they eat the copperheads.

Thanks for the replies, ya'll!

Nana

 

[Born2Dtect]

I am not a snake expert, but I do not think the snake is a Copperhead. From what I can see in the picture the bands are uniform aroiund the body. The Copperhead (see picture below) has bands that get larger at the belly. If we could see the head I could be more certain. Nana can you go back and get a close-up of the head? HaHa!.

Ed D.

 

[Nana40]

Well...I'm thinkin he's probably finished with that snack and moved on, Ed. I really do wish we could have gotten closer pics, but he was on the other side of the river, and there weren't no gettin in the water after seeing that one!

Nana