OT: Range of the Cotton Mouth in Kentucky

[Lum Eddards]

Lake Malone I'm guessing somewhere around 1990. I was water skiing. Just let go of the rope and while the boat was circling back we saw this snake swimming towards me on top of the water with his head up. I shoved the ski at him to scare him off but he didn't alter his course. Kept coming straight at me. Looked like he was crossing the lake and I got in his way. If my memory is correct, he got within about 6 feet or less of me before I decided to get outta there but fast. Thankfully the boat was there. I practically jumped out of the water into it. My brother and cousin were swiping at it with their paddle and that sucker kept his head up for a while acting all tough and flattened his neck sorta like a cobra. I was in the back of the boat as far away as I could get from him so I didn't see if he struck at them much. Had another cousin that was yelling at my bro and cousin for messing with it. We thought maybe it was a water headed Copper Moccasin because it didn't seem very afraid. I had never heard of them flattening their neck like that. Reckon that was just a Yella Belly snake or the real deal? It was too close for me to get away if he really wanted to bite me. But he didn't seem interested in going around me either. Just slithered right over my ski and kept comin.

The experts claim they are mostly in far Western Kentucky. Have any of you seen a cottonmouth as far east as Lake Malone?

 

[Glenn's Take]

Depends on the strength of the weed but I don't get cotton mouth much anymore.

 

[BBNSZN914]

Depends on the strength of the weed but I don't get cotton mouth much anymore.

Glad someone bagged and tagged that one. Easy kill.

 

[BigBluefoot]

Lake Malone I'm guessing somewhere around 1990. I was water skiing. Just let go of the rope and while the boat was circling back we saw this snake swimming towards me on top of the water with his head up. I shoved the ski at him to scare him off but he didn't alter his course. Kept coming straight at me. Looked like he was crossing the lake and I got in his way. If my memory is correct, he got within about 6 feet or less of me before I decided to get outta there but fast. Thankfully the boat was there. I practically jumped out of the water into it. My brother and cousin were swiping at it with their paddle and that sucker kept his head up for a while acting all tough and flattened his neck sorta like a cobra. I was in the back of the boat as far away as I could get from him so I didn't see if he struck at them much. Had another cousin that was yelling at my bro and cousin for messing with it. We thought maybe it was a water headed Copper Moccasin because it didn't seem very afraid. I had never heard of them flattening their neck like that. Reckon that was just a Yella Belly snake or the real deal? It was too close for me to get away if he really wanted to bite me. But he didn't seem interested in going around me either. Just slithered right over my ski and kept comin.

The experts claim they are mostly in far Western Kentucky. Have any of you seen a cottonmouth as far east as Lake Malone?

Not sure where Lake Malone is at. But years ago I was traveling down a rural road not too far from Madisonville.. The road goes over a swamp or slough that I think was part of thr Peabody mines. Well I was thinking about launching my kayak there and when I hopped out, there was a dead fat snake on the road. Flipped it over and it was definitely a water moccasin. (Not a water snake). Went kayaking elsewhere that day.
So yeah, I know they are in western Kentucky. Up more by Louisville all that I have ever seen were copperheads and timber rattlers as far as venomous. Now, I do know Hog nosed king snakes can and do flatten out their neck and try to look like a cobra. Cottonmouths do swim.on top of the water btw.

 

[Lum Eddards]

So no opinions on whether or not this was a water headed Copper Moccasin? It still bugs me that we couldn't positively identify it. Swimming on top of the water sounds right and the fact that it was slow to retreat. I've read that water snakes tend to be more on the aggressive side anyway. The only other snake I could see it being is this. They look very similar. The feller handling these snakes sounds like a really awesome dude. Fascinating video imo.

 

[notFromhere]

Lake Malone I'm guessing somewhere around 1990. I was water skiing. Just let go of the rope and while the boat was circling back we saw this snake swimming towards me on top of the water with his head up. I shoved the ski at him to scare him off but he didn't alter his course. Kept coming straight at me. Looked like he was crossing the lake and I got in his way. If my memory is correct, he got within about 6 feet or less of me before I decided to get outta there but fast. Thankfully the boat was there. I practically jumped out of the water into it. My brother and cousin were swiping at it with their paddle and that sucker kept his head up for a while acting all tough and flattened his neck sorta like a cobra. I was in the back of the boat as far away as I could get from him so I didn't see if he struck at them much. Had another cousin that was yelling at my bro and cousin for messing with it. We thought maybe it was a water headed Copper Moccasin because it didn't seem very afraid. I had never heard of them flattening their neck like that. Reckon that was just a Yella Belly snake or the real deal? It was too close for me to get away if he really wanted to bite me. But he didn't seem interested in going around me either. Just slithered right over my ski and kept comin.

The experts claim they are mostly in far Western Kentucky. Have any of you seen a cottonmouth as far east as Lake Malone?

Farthest east I've ever heard of them is Henderson, but no photo evidence of that.

Most snakes can swim and do so with their heads on top of the water.

If you aren't in their way or swiping at them, they will swim harmlessly past.

Most snakes will flatten their heads and/or try to make themselves look scary when threatened.

Copperheads are often mistaken for cottonmouths. They're nearly the same snake but with different markings.

Friend saw a copperhead last week with a group of over 50 people. They all walked past it and it didn't attack anyone. It just sat there until the guide got a large stick and lifted it farther from the path. Only then did it get agitated, yet it only wanted to get away.

 

[Lum Eddards]

Farthest east I've ever heard of them is Henderson, but no photo evidence of that.

Most snakes can swim and do so with their heads on top of the water.

If you aren't in their way or swiping at them, they will swim harmlessly past.

Most snakes will flatten their heads and/or try to make themselves look scary when threatened.

Copperheads are often mistaken for cottonmouths. They're nearly the same snake but with different markings.

Friend saw a copperhead last week with a group of over 50 people. They all walked past it and it didn't attack anyone. It just sat there until the guide got a large stick and lifted it farther from the path. Only then did it get agitated, yet it only wanted to get away.

I've read that they tend to look inflated on top of the water. It's been so long and I couldn't see it from that vantage point, so I'd have to ask them if the entire body was on top of the water. But that is my recollection from my viewpoint. I don't remember that it ever retreated underwater which he could have done any time he chose to. Seems like we followed it to the opposite bank and it got away.

 

[KYace83]

I know for sure they are at lake Malone. I have heard quite a few stories about them there. I go to rough river a lot and have never seen them there but I don’t know if that’s just luck.

 

[Lum Eddards]

Not sure where Lake Malone is at. But years ago I was traveling down a rural road not too far from Madisonville.. The road goes over a swamp or slough that I think was part of thr Peabody mines. Well I was thinking about launching my kayak there and when I hopped out, there was a dead fat snake on the road. Flipped it over and it was definitely a water moccasin. (Not a water snake). Went kayaking elsewhere that day.
So yeah, I know they are in western Kentucky. Up more by Louisville all that I have ever seen were copperheads and timber rattlers as far as venomous. Now, I do know Hog nosed king snakes can and do flatten out their neck and try to look like a cobra. Cottonmouths do swim.on top of the water btw.

Lake Malone is in Logan, Muhlenberg, and Todd counties. Primarily Muhlenberg.

 

[1BadCat]

I know Lake Barkley has them. Man I wish we lived closer to LBL(live in Letcher county)
It takes us 6 hours to get out there, but I love it,

 

[Lum Eddards]

Apparently they have to be able to take shelter below the frost line. Some of Western Kentucky is cave country so they are known to be in the Mammoth Cave area as well as LBL. There may be enough caves and other natural hibernacula near Lake Malone that they could survive the winters.

 

[Fake Mark Pope]

Shoot, I've seen cottonmouths in both Laurel County and Clay County.

 

[Kantucke_rivals]

So no opinions on whether or not this was a water headed Copper Moccasin? It still bugs me that we couldn't positively identify it. Swimming on top of the water sounds right and the fact that it was slow to retreat. I've read that water snakes tend to be more on the aggressive side anyway. The only other snake I could see it being is this. They look very similar. The feller handling these snakes sounds like a really awesome dude. Fascinating video imo.

Hate snakes in general but yeah snakes on water are pretty aggressive. A few have swam right at me or my boat in Laurel lake. But I've never stuck around long enough to actually identify as I'm usually headed wide opening the opposite direction

 

[PastorofMuppets82]

Originally from Western Ky. Can confirm Cotton Mouths are common and in some cases evasive around our lakes, ponds and streams. Especially in the Cave areas and the old mining areas where they can survive winter rather easily. Our city lake reserve was so bad with them, they banned fishing on it.

 

[Supafuzz75]

Lake Malone I'm guessing somewhere around 1990. I was water skiing. Just let go of the rope and while the boat was circling back we saw this snake swimming towards me on top of the water with his head up. I shoved the ski at him to scare him off but he didn't alter his course. Kept coming straight at me. Looked like he was crossing the lake and I got in his way. If my memory is correct, he got within about 6 feet or less of me before I decided to get outta there but fast. Thankfully the boat was there. I practically jumped out of the water into it. My brother and cousin were swiping at it with their paddle and that sucker kept his head up for a while acting all tough and flattened his neck sorta like a cobra. I was in the back of the boat as far away as I could get from him so I didn't see if he struck at them much. Had another cousin that was yelling at my bro and cousin for messing with it. We thought maybe it was a water headed Copper Moccasin because it didn't seem very afraid. I had never heard of them flattening their neck like that. Reckon that was just a Yella Belly snake or the real deal? It was too close for me to get away if he really wanted to bite me. But he didn't seem interested in going around me either. Just slithered right over my ski and kept comin.

The experts claim they are mostly in far Western Kentucky. Have any of you seen a cottonmouth as far east as Lake Malone?

King snake

 

[phunterd]

I only care about whether or not KY has mountain lions. Might be time for another thread on it.

 

[UKBB4Ever]

Lake Malone I'm guessing somewhere around 1990. I was water skiing. Just let go of the rope and while the boat was circling back we saw this snake swimming towards me on top of the water with his head up. I shoved the ski at him to scare him off but he didn't alter his course. Kept coming straight at me. Looked like he was crossing the lake and I got in his way. If my memory is correct, he got within about 6 feet or less of me before I decided to get outta there but fast. Thankfully the boat was there. I practically jumped out of the water into it. My brother and cousin were swiping at it with their paddle and that sucker kept his head up for a while acting all tough and flattened his neck sorta like a cobra. I was in the back of the boat as far away as I could get from him so I didn't see if he struck at them much. Had another cousin that was yelling at my bro and cousin for messing with it. We thought maybe it was a water headed Copper Moccasin because it didn't seem very afraid. I had never heard of them flattening their neck like that. Reckon that was just a Yella Belly snake or the real deal? It was too close for me to get away if he really wanted to bite me. But he didn't seem interested in going around me either. Just slithered right over my ski and kept comin.

The experts claim they are mostly in far Western Kentucky. Have any of you seen a cottonmouth as far east as Lake Malone?

I used to live near Lake Malone. There’s plenty of copperheads and cotton mouths in the whole region.

I think White City near Madisonville is snake heaven.

But what it sounds like you saw is what the locals call a “spread natter”. It’s a brown snake that raises its head and spreads like a cobra.

I only saw one in the wild and I thought it was a cobra. My deer hunting friends had a big laugh about it.

They say it’s not poisonous. I don’t know. All snakes are deadly to me.

 

[BigBluefoot]

I know Lake Barkley has them. Man I wish we lived closer to LBL(live in Letcher county)
It takes us 6 hours to get out there, but I love it,

Yup, would love to live near LBL.

 

[Fake Mark Pope]

I only care about whether or not KY has mountain lions. Might be time for another thread on it.

I have seen them, heard them, and seen their tracks in clay county. I know they have been caught in trail cams in Laurel county and out near the Pulaski county/Laurel county line near Laurel lake.

 

[wkycatfan7]

I've heard there can be a lot of them around the 2-mile Hemitite lake hike in LBL.

 

[LordEgg]

i grew up by the LBL. They are all over out there, but there are alot of other water snakes, too.

 

[-UKGrad93-]

They were definitely at Lake Beshear in the 80s. I remember dad using my little brother’s fishing pole to kill one that was coming towards the boat.

 

[1997_H00SIER-Cat]

Apparently they have to be able to take shelter below the frost line. Some of Western Kentucky is cave country so they are known to be in the Mammoth Cave area as well as LBL. There may be enough caves and other natural hibernacula near Lake Malone that they could survive the winters.

Up vote for using the word hibernacula. I don't know if it's a real word or not. Probably win you a game if scrabble someday.

 

[BigRafi]

Lake Malone I'm guessing somewhere around 1990. I was water skiing. Just let go of the rope and while the boat was circling back we saw this snake swimming towards me on top of the water with his head up. I shoved the ski at him to scare him off but he didn't alter his course. Kept coming straight at me. Looked like he was crossing the lake and I got in his way. If my memory is correct, he got within about 6 feet or less of me before I decided to get outta there but fast. Thankfully the boat was there. I practically jumped out of the water into it. My brother and cousin were swiping at it with their paddle and that sucker kept his head up for a while acting all tough and flattened his neck sorta like a cobra. I was in the back of the boat as far away as I could get from him so I didn't see if he struck at them much. Had another cousin that was yelling at my bro and cousin for messing with it. We thought maybe it was a water headed Copper Moccasin because it didn't seem very afraid. I had never heard of them flattening their neck like that. Reckon that was just a Yella Belly snake or the real deal? It was too close for me to get away if he really wanted to bite me. But he didn't seem interested in going around me either. Just slithered right over my ski and kept comin.

The experts claim they are mostly in far Western Kentucky. Have any of you seen a cottonmouth as far east as Lake Malone?

Someone please tell me just what the heck is a copper moccasin? I’ve never heard of a snake called that in my life. Water moccasins were cottonmouths as they are called in the south and copper heads that are in your yard, especially bushes and Ivy, but what is a copper moccasin?

 

[JPFisher]

Lake Malone is in Logan, Muhlenberg, and Todd counties. Primarily Muhlenberg.

That would definitely be within feasibility for cottonmouth range in Kentucky.

Distinguishing features for the public for cottonmouths are a dark "mask" along the eyes, the characteristic white mouth, and a very stocky body for a snake.

Other distinguishing characteristics are slitted pupils, keeled scales (scales that look like the hull of a boat – helps the snake glide through the water), and a body that suspends *slightly* higher out of the water than a non-venomous water snake. I do not recommend using these characteristics since they can be unreliable to the untrained eye and/or require getting very close to the animal.

As for other snakes flattening their heads, that's something a lot of nonvenomous water snakes do. It's just a defense mechanism to make them look larger and mimic a venomous species. Plain belly water snakes, hognose snakes, midland water snakes, and more will all do it.

 

[JPFisher]

Yup, would love to live near LBL.

Beautiful country. Lots of ticks. More than anywhere else I've ever hiked.

 

[cdbearde_rivals384606]

I know Lake Barkley has them. Man I wish we lived closer to LBL(live in Letcher county)
It takes us 6 hours to get out there, but I love it,

I live in the area, LBL is a 10-minute drive from my house, very nice laid back area.


And Cottonmouth's are very common around here, they swim on top of the water and will become very aggressive if you are around their hatching area. As I grew up, we had many swim towards our boat. I have many stories on them, some are funny, but not smart.

 

[TheBlueStreak]

I’ve killed one cottonmouth in lake Malone myself. I’ve killed hundreds in muhlenberg county while frog gigging.

I have double major in biology and chemistry also , was raised hunting and fishing here. I brought a dead one in to show one of my professors that didn’t believe me.

 

[katwest]

The largest concentration of cottonmouths in Kentucky are in Hickman county at a place called Murphy’s pond. They are all over Western Kentucky, I live in Caldwell country and there are plenty of them here. The Tradewater river is known for having them all up and down the river, that’s where the nature station at LBL gets theirs that are on display.

 

[Lum Eddards]

I used to live near Lake Malone. There’s plenty of copperheads and cotton mouths in the whole region.

I think White City near Madisonville is snake heaven.

But what it sounds like you saw is what the locals call a “spread natter”. It’s a brown snake that raises its head and spreads like a cobra.

I only saw one in the wild and I thought it was a cobra. My deer hunting friends had a big laugh about it.

They say it’s not poisonous. I don’t know. All snakes are deadly to me.

Interesting. My memory has it the color of a cottonmouth.

 

[Lum Eddards]

Up vote for using the word hibernacula. I don't know if it's a real word or not. Probably win you a game if scrabble someday.

Pretty sure it's a real word. I first run across it last night when researching this matter.

 

[Lum Eddards]

Someone please tell me just what the heck is a copper moccasin? I’ve never heard of a snake called that in my life. Water moccasins were cottonmouths as they are called in the south and copper heads that are in your yard, especially bushes and Ivy, but what is a copper moccasin?

It's a joke is what is is sir.

 

[cordmaker 74]

Lake Malone I'm guessing somewhere around 1990. I was water skiing. Just let go of the rope and while the boat was circling back we saw this snake swimming towards me on top of the water with his head up. I shoved the ski at him to scare him off but he didn't alter his course. Kept coming straight at me. Looked like he was crossing the lake and I got in his way. If my memory is correct, he got within about 6 feet or less of me before I decided to get outta there but fast. Thankfully the boat was there. I practically jumped out of the water into it. My brother and cousin were swiping at it with their paddle and that sucker kept his head up for a while acting all tough and flattened his neck sorta like a cobra. I was in the back of the boat as far away as I could get from him so I didn't see if he struck at them much. Had another cousin that was yelling at my bro and cousin for messing with it. We thought maybe it was a water headed Copper Moccasin because it didn't seem very afraid. I had never heard of them flattening their neck like that. Reckon that was just a Yella Belly snake or the real deal? It was too close for me to get away if he really wanted to bite me. But he didn't seem interested in going around me either. Just slithered right over my ski and kept comin.

The experts claim they are mostly in far Western Kentucky. Have any of you seen a cottonmouth as far east as Lake Malone?

I live in the Berg, I have fished all over Gibraltar in the Berg and Ken in Ohio county mines all my life, they are there, and yes I hate snakes! Also it's hard to frog hunt watching for them suckers!!!!

 

[wkycatfan7]

Beautiful country. Lots of ticks. More than anywhere else I've ever hiked.

Hiking in winter or early spring is best imo, plus the lake views are much better.

 

[Bluegrass79]

They love large collections of creek rock stacked on the edges of a stream. Ive seen em' in Lexington along the creek running beside Frisch's Big boy on Harrodsburg road that went out of business.

 

[UKBB4Ever]

Interesting. My memory has it the color of a cottonmouth.

My memory might not be correct? I didn't hang around long. My friends said I could have told his eyes if it was poisonous.

Like I'm getting that close??

 

[KyKevin]

I know Lake Barkley has them. Man I wish we lived closer to LBL(live in Letcher county)
It takes us 6 hours to get out there, but I love it,

I grew up fishing Kentucky and Barkley lakes, and below the dams. Ballard county refuge was our favorite weekend camping spot. And I'm pretty sure the cottonmouths were in all of those lakes.

 

[KyKevin]

I’ve killed one cottonmouth in lake Malone myself. I’ve killed hundreds in muhlenberg county while frog gigging.

I have double major in biology and chemistry also , was raised hunting and fishing here. I brought a dead one in to show one of my professors that didn’t believe me.

I miss frog gigging, I gigged a lot of frogs in those Muhlenburg strip pits, in the 70's. I've been reading about the Bullfrogs here in Utah. There invasive, and no limit on them.

 

[stringmusiccat1]

I miss frog gigging, I gigged a lot of frogs in those Muhlenburg strip pits, in the 70's. I've been reading about the Bullfrogs here in Utah. There invasive, and no limit on them.

Please don't stick a gig in Jeremiah. He is a good friend of mine.

 

[BigBluefoot]

Beautiful country. Lots of ticks. More than anywhere else I've ever hiked.

Hoosier National forest a few years back, I had to literally stop every 50 yards or so and pick multiple ticks off that working up my leg. It was ridiculous. They laughed at my deet.