You guys demonstrate my theory that cottonmouths are "passive-aggressive." Dangerous in that they don't move out of the path, often, and people who are not alert can step on them. Tales of them chasing people are usually highly exaggerated. This isn't to say it can't happen. Just that it's not a common behavior. My best cottonmouth story involved canoeing by myself on Rock Springs Run. I was in an area we call the Flats. Very shallow water, with a lot of grassy vegetation. Makes for slow canoeing as you try to glide through without digging up the bottom. I spotted a cottonmouth in the water, about 2 1/2 feet long, and close to the shore. It had a dead fish in its mouth. I don't think it killed the fish, but I can't be sure of that. But the fish looked REAL dead. It was a panfish of some type (bluegill, shellcracker, one of those) and quite wide, and this snake was trying its best to figure out how to swallow it. The snake worked its mouth slowly around the body of the fish, which was way, WAY too wide for it to swallow, and even tried to force it down sideways. The fish was probably ten inches long and no way was that snake going to get it down sideways. I let the canoe drift over fairly close, as I was enjoying the show. The snake finally began working its way towards the head of the fish, where it would have had the best chance to get it down, but suddenly noticed me or my canoe slowly nearing. If snakes could change expression, this one's eyes would have bugged out and his mouth would have dropped open. If they could talk, he would have been yelling "Holy Sheepdip! Where'd THAT come from??" He did a backflip away from the fish and took off for the weeds like a streak! It was so funny looking, I almost fell out of my canoe laughing at him. I always wondered if he came back later to finish working on the fish. But I didn't wonder about who was more scared by our encounter. He definitely was! Still...I am very careful on the river or in places where cottonmouths might lurk. They normally don't care if you approach them. I admire them, but I don't want to step on one or come face to face with one at any closer range than what I just described. I'm not NEARLY as brave as Wayne! Marcia

Eastern Gartersnake (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis) Not venomous and completely harmless. Like most snakes, they will bite if harassed. The one pictured looks to be a gravid (pregnant) female. Gartersnakes don't lay eggs, but give birth to live young.

Thank you both SSSSOOOO much for your help!! Oh, and thanks for giving my drawing a second look instead of blowing it off as a joke. ;) I did look at the snake in the link you sent, FHFchrish, which prompted me to investigate further. I came across a photo that is VERY similar to the one we saw that fateful day and have included a link in case either of you is interested. (Without my bifocals on, I couldn't tell there were bands running the entire length of the snake.) I did some further research and discovered it was probably a good thing I didn't try to get that photo after all because apparently they are very mean tempered! Mystery solved. Thank you! Here is a link that might be useful: Red Racer compliments of Ron's Log

This picture was taken in the Andes of Ecuador in an elevation of close to 3k. I was told it was harmless and by someone else that it was a bushmaster. Does anyone recognize it?