Snake infested water bodies

[Glenn MacGrady]

I haven't seen too many snakes in the lakes, rivers and swamps I've paddled. I do recall seeing water moccasins (AKA cottonmouths) in Silver Springs River, Florida, as I was stepping out of the canoe at a landing. Here is a review of the most snake infested lakes in South Carolina—a wonderful canoeing state, which has everything from coastal paddling to blackwater rivers to whitewater rivers to Jurassic swamps.

"From cottonmouths basking on docks and copperheads prowling the shallows to rat snakes mingling near hiking trails, it is critical to know how to react when you come across one. By understanding where these reptiles thrive most, lake visitors can be more aware and prepared if venturing to areas with historically high snake concentrations. Safety precautions also take precedence when visiting the most snake-infested lakes in South Carolina."

The Most Snake Infested Lakes in South Carolina

To avoid unnecessary conflicts, learn more about the South Carolina lakes, which are reputed as hotspots for different snake species in the United States.

www.worldatlas.com

At the bottom of the article are links to other articles about the most snake infested lakes in Iowa, Indiana, Wisconsin and West Virginia.

 

[Mason]

I grew up in S.C., and some of my earliest canoe trips were to catch snakes on a local creek. We'd let them go at the end. I moved to western Washington after college, and it took me a year or so to stop looking at every step since there weren't any poisonous snakes around.

 

[billconner]

All reasons why I stick to Canada and border states.

 

[MrPoling]

I've paddled in the Carolinas for decades. I don't worry about snakes much. I worry about people, drowning, and gators.

This is an excellent site for snake identification.

Snakes

herpsofnc.org

The northern water snake is ubiquitous in the waters of the Carolinas It is frequently confused with copperheads and water moccasins. Mostly harmless, its brazen attitude often freaks people out.

 

[Blukanu]

Snakes are definitely not my thing. Luckily garter snakes are most common here. Non-venomous and easy to identify. Either way I always stay away from all snakes just to be sure.

 

[Blukanu]

 

[Jmharrick]

I had walked through this area 3 times already while carefully scanning for snakes. The 4th time I was complacent and talking to my dad and brother over my shoulder. I noticed movement out of the corner of my eye and jumped in the opposite direction. When I looked back to where I was about to step, I saw this guy was curled up between a blueberry patch and some moss and lichen. This is a Massasauga Rattlesnake. He was so small that his rattle made more of a clicking sound than a traditional rattle.

My older brother swore that the snake had struck my left foot, but I hadn’t felt anything.
Upon close inspection of my left Chaco sandal I noticed that I had two small puncture marks in the side. I guess I was lucky. I don’t wear chacos around the Georgian Bay in summer anymore.

 

[ppine]

Growing up in Maryland the quiet waters were crawling with snakes. I never got used to them hanging in the brush and slithering into the water as we went past.

I went to grad school at U of Washington with a guy from Mississippi that was paddling an aluminum canoe when a water moccasin fell into his boat and latched onto his leg. It bit him several times and he had a tough time in the hospital recovering from it.

 

[snapper]

I remember my first time paddling in the Okefenokee NWR. We were warned not to paddle under tree limbs if we could avoid them since snakes might be sunning themselves on them. Nothing like a snake falling into your canoe to upset the day!

That's all for now. Take care and until next time...be well.

snapper

 

[billconner]

Yeah, I'm not paddling below the Madon Dixon line.

 

[memaquay]

So my son learned this song a few months ago, we played it at our last gig, people even developed a dance for it. Warning...it is ear candy that will be hard to get rid of....

 

[GladMax]

No matter how scared you are of snakes, they are more scared of you. I forget the precise stat, but it's well over 80% and I think high 90s, of snake bites are on males under age of 25, and on the hand or forearm.

 

[Erica]

No matter how scared you are of snakes, they are more scared of you. I forget the precise stat, but it's well over 80% and I think high 90s, of snake bites are on males under age of 25, and on the hand or forearm.

Most snakes may slither away, but venomous ones not so much. And in other parts of the world (outside of North America) many more species of snakes are venomous and aggressive. Or are large constrictors.

Many venomous snakes are aggressive. I’ve personally witnessed a cottonmouth standing its ground and threatening me, head raised up and wide white mouth open.

Being in Florida, I’m plenty sure an 18 foot python is not afraid of me or anybody else.

 

[GladMax]

Yes, Erica, it happens, and when it does it makes the news. But you are far more likely to hurt yourself getting in or out of the tub than bit by a snake.
According to Wikipedia, about five ppl die per year from snake bites.
According to the Coast Guard, about 120ppl drown every year in kayaks.
And scores more ppl come in contact with snakes, than kayak.
Edit: These stats are for Americans only.

 

[Steve in Idaho]

I recently found out that Ririe Reservoir in eastern Idaho is heavily infested with rattlesnakes, and they do swim and often attempt to board watercraft (for whatever reason).

I may have told this story before....
Years ago, I got a real good deal on a nearly new Wenonah Fisherman because the owner's wife refused to get in it again after a rattlesnake swam up and climbed into it while they were paddling on Brownlee reservoir. At least, that was his story. I didn't ask the wife for her version.

 

[GladMax]

If a snake is trying to climb in a boat (or drops from a tree into) it's not because its of a mind to get itself some human. Its cuz it didn't know that long thing in the water was a conveyance containing a human. Speak to the snake: it'll beat tracks.
Animals do not like the sound of the human voice. To them it signals danger as clearly as a lion's roar.
And all animals use the same communication technique that we do, of pitch and tempo. Low pitch means 'danger, get away,' high pitch means 'come here' or 'please help.' Fast tempo means excited, slow tempo means relaxed. Any animal you want to talk to, talk to it like you mean it: it'll understand.
And I mean complex intangible concepts such as ego and eternity.
Other than deciding it's worth the work to grow what we think we want instead of waiting or moving around to see what is provided, we really are just like all the other animals.
Edit: and they're just like us. There are some of them that like to throw elbows on their way thru a crowd, just to feel powerful. But if you chest up (and you believe it) as you say: "I'm the human here! You best watch out!" they might give you a resentful side eye but they'll be on their way.

 

[Tsuga8]

Most snakes may slither away, but venomous ones not so much. And in other parts of the world (outside of North America) many more species of snakes are venomous and aggressive. Or are large constrictors.

Many venomous snakes are aggressive. I’ve personally witnessed a cottonmouth standing its ground and threatening me, head raised up and wide white mouth open.

Being in Florida, I’m plenty sure an 18 foot python is not afraid of me or anybody else.

I don't consider your cottonmouth description to be aggressive behavior. We are giants to most snakes - something 100x bigger than a cottonmouth or rattlesnake. They don't want to get stepped on and crushed, so they're trying to get our attention. 'Hey, I'm here, don't tread on me!'

There's been a study or two with prosthestics where researchers tried to elicit bites. In this study, only 6% of rattlesnakes bit when stepped on with a fake leg/boot. Most tried to flee. As mentioned by GladMax, the gross majority of venomous snake bites in the US (and I'll venture Canada) happen to people deliberately interacting with snakes (trying to move them, capture them, kill them, photo graph them, etc).

In two years of working on wildlife research in the Everglades, mostly studying and trying to control pythons, tromping through backcountry for miles and miles, wading through swamp and marsh up to chest deep, I encountered all of two cottonmouths that acted as you describe, which I'd call being visibly defensive as opposed to relying on hiding or leaving. I always backed off, and we were all fine. I encountered many large pythons (8ft - 15ft), only one of which ever bit someone before we grabbed it. The ones that lunged and struck were all being grabbed - their first instinct is to hide, and their second instinct is to flee (which they do extremely fast). Even snakes like cottonmouths, watersnakes, racers and ratsnakes that sometimes rear up and lunge, which I categorize as being defensive. When you back off, they generally stop and try to leave. I had similar experience during a summer in Okefenokee.

When I worked in the Ozarks there were tons of copperheads, and timber rattlers were common enough. We practiced snake-safe bushcraft - always look where you put your hands and feet. These snakes tend to hang out along and under logs because mice travel along logs, so I always look on the far side of a log before stepping over. When our botany crews encountered a venomous snake in the plot they were surveying, they just assigned one person to watch the snake and make sure everyone kept their distance. The snakes generally went on their way with minimal fuss.

Snakes dropping into boats is real, but it's because their natural escape behavior from sunning is to dive into the water, just like turtles. They lack of comprehension of canoes is certainly unfortunate, and I sure wouldn't want a venomous species feeling trapped at my feet in the boat. And, I have also witnessed this behavior in which swimming snakes approach boats sometimes - it's honestly a head-scratcher but I try to keep my cool and give them space and we go our separate ways.

 

[Erica]

My only point was that snakes, especially venomous ones and large constrictors, need to be treated with the same respect, attention and care we give to bears, big cats, alligators and venomous spiders. Bites and attacks, etc., may well be rare, but that doesn’t mean someone should be blasé about interactions.

 

[Tsuga8]

My only point was that snakes, especially venomous ones and large constrictors, need to be treated with the same respect, attention and care we give to bears, big cats, alligators and venomous spiders. Bites and attacks, etc., may well be rare, but that doesn’t mean someone should be blasé about interactions.

Totally agreed on that point!

 

[Glenn MacGrady]

To maximize safety when canoeing, wading and portaging in snake country, consider wearing snake boots such as the 18" LaCrosse Venom II.

Venom II 18" NWTF Mossy Oak Obsession

STAY FOCUSED ON THE HUNT, NOT YOUR NEXT STEP With any luck, you'll never need to lean on the protection of the Venom II's ultra-flexible Snake Guard. But if you ever happen to cross paths with a venomous snake in the turkey woods or on the farm, you'll be glad you have it. The Venom II is fully...

www.lacrossefootwear.com

And for those serpents that drop out of trees, consider paddling under an umbrella stun gun as both shield and sword.

Umbrella Stun Gun - Discreet Self-Defense You Can Carry Anywhere

This umbrella stun gun is a hidden self-defense weapon disguised as an ordinary umbrella. Stay protected without raising suspicion. Order yours today!

www.tbotech.com

In Florida, I am always most concerned about coral snakes, although I can't say I've ever seen one.