Jeff killed this Louisiana water moccasin today with a pellet gun. The snake was sunbathing on his back stairs that leads down to his dock. Nice shot Jeff, right through his head!
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Cross Lake Shreveport 
Doesn’t Look Like A Water Mocassin to me.
Everyone thinks every snake is a Cottonmouth/Mocassin. Most are not.
It appears to be a Diamondback Watersnake. Harmless and non-agressive for the most part.
Not sure why so many kill all of these beneficial animals.
See the round pupil. That indicates a non-venomous species.
A Cottonmouth and a Copperhead have eliptical pupils. (think catseye)
The color pattern isn’t that of a Cottonmouth either.
If a potentially dangerous snake is in your backyard where children and also pets play, then it is not worth the risk to debate if the snake could potentially strike a deadly blow. It is much better to euthanize the snake rather than take the chance. Do you agree?
If you live in La., you should know the difference.
I’ve lived here for 22years and I don’t know the difference between snakes
I totally agree about the wife doing her due dcligenie. The worst thing in the world is to make quick strides then have regrets because you didn’t know the whole situation. Also, I think its important to set up a meeting at a neutral location when both parties can discuss this calmly. The wife has to be ready to LISTEN and the husband needs to be ready to talk. I hate when you ask the whys, whens, and hows and the guy has no explanation, acting like he’s stumped by his own actions.
I disagree because ( in my experience) it is very easy to distinguish a real Cottonmouth from the majority of harmless species just by sight. The study of any guidebook will allow you to determine one from the other quite easily.
Also,..even Cottonmouths are very wary of humans and flee when given the chance. They are essentially non-agreesive and only dangerous when they feel cornered or threatened. Even then they usually do not strike, but show their “cottonmouths” as a warning.
The diamond shape of the head was much more distinct while the snake was alive. I understand the nature of Cottonmouths being wary of humans and fleeing, but this particular snake did not know that anyone saw him so there was not time for the creature to feel cornered or threatened.
Many people think that venomous snakes have triangular heads, and the non-venomous snakes have rounded heads, this isn’t true. Though most venomous snakes have triagular heads some do not, and many non-venomous species have triagular head.
So the old “diamond-shaped head” test isnt a very accurate one unfortunately.
The best way to determine a true Water Moccassin is by the color pattern and,…..if you are close enough to see,…..its pupil will not be round. But, i can tell that you probably dont wish to be that up close and personal! LOL
Thanks for the feedback Anonymous! Perhaps we should run a poll to see how many people would want to hold this snake if it was alive, I think that would be the true test to see how sure everyone is if this snake is poisonous or not.. haha
Whether the snake was venomous or not, what was the urgency or necessity for killing the snake? Could he not have easily moved the snake into the water with his gun? If he is worried about children or pets encountering a snake, he might want to think of relocating.
Anonymous obviously doesn’t have kids.
m,
You are correct; I do not have kids. That fact, however, does not bias my comment or show ignorance on my part. My father had two sons, and because he loved his sons he taught his sons about snakes and how to handle them. He also taught us that if it was necessary to kill things, then that is what needed to be done.
My question still stands. What was the urgency or necessity for killing the snake?
Regarding the urgency or necessity for killing the snake – risk management seems like the most likely reason.
Risk management is basically a different way of wording what my question was getting at; it wasn’t an answer to my question. What were the real risks, and to whom or to what? Could that risk have been eliminated or decreased by methods other than killing?
No
That’s just lazy. You are not even trying to think about this.
No Anonymous, you are just Anonymous. Nobody likes to talk with people who are Anonymous. Do you want me to just tell you that you’re right? If you could bring in a snake expert, then I’d by happy to modify the post to say it is just a large snake that may or may not be dangerous, but until then could you at least change your name to Anonymous Snake Pro?
somebody, or somebodies, need to get a life!!
People just need to get smarter and less proud. They should reflect upon their actions honestly. They should also realize that even though they might be an adult, it does not mean that they are beyond reproof. I wasn’t trying to pick a fight; people should not view it that way. I just want people to think and strive to improve their thinking. Actions have consequences, and that is why their are so many problems today.Some people think that they can do whatever they want as long as it isn’t illegal and somehow that makes it ok. But that simply isn’t the case.
That was a NON venomous Diamondback Water Snake (Nerodia rhombifer). Many people get regular Water Snakes (Diamondback or Yellow Belly) mixed up with Water Moccasins/Cottonmouths. These types of snakes are very distinguishable and are quite different. I am asking everyone to please do research as to the different types of snakes we have in our area. Even venomous snakes have their purpose and are even being used to help cure many diseases, such as cancer, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and help stroke victims. Snakes are not out to hurt people and will not chase you. If you don’t know what type of snake it is, it is best to leave it alone and call a professional. Steve’s Snaketuary is available for identification and safe removal and relocation of snakes.
Educating yourself and your family about the snakes in your area is probably the safest bet. This diamond back water snake has a role to play. They aren’t invasive like us. Education is the key.