I am heading out to Branson Missouri next weekend for me and my wife's one year aniversery. I allways make it a point to do a little herping no mater what the ocasion. I plan on doing a little road cruising for some pygmies but I would also like to find a cottonmouth. Does anyone know, if at all, how common they are in that area? Any tips or locations would be greatly appreciated.
I think in SW Missouri Cottonmouths are found in cool, spring fed rocky creeks. It would be really wild to see one in that kind of habitat. I've only ever seen them in the obvious lowland swamp habitats of Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois.
There are some neat species around Branson. My first time there I saw a Ground Snake (Sonora semiannulata) and it made me feel like I was in Arizona. Some supposedly good Pygmy sites right around Branson too though I haven't found one there yet (have seen one in Arkansas).
wayne_mo