The Montgomery water moccasin snake is also referred to as the cotton mouth snake and it remains the only poisonous water snake in North America. It belongs to a special species of pit vipers , and their native range is in the South-eastern parts of the United States, including Alabama. The name cotton-mouth arose from the white colouration of the inside part of the mouth of the snake.



Appearance
This Alabama snake is mostly identified by its distinctive triangular and block-shaped head, it also has a thick body and it is one of the fastest water snakes that can bite fatally. The snake is very large, and can reach between 2 and 4 feet in length, when fully matured. Due to their venom glands, these types of snakes have very large jowls . Holding the large triangular head is the thin neck while the thick and muscular bodies support the entire length of the body, thus providing more flexible movements for the Montgomery snake in different terrains.

Biology
Water Moccasin snake has an heat-sensing pit located between its eyes and its nostrils, and the Montgomery snake use such feature to detect even a minute change in temperatures of the water or land- this will help the snake identify a particular region where a prey is located.

Life cycle
Water moccasin has a lifespan of less than 8 years, however, the survival rate of the young ones are less than 50% as most of them die as a result of predator attacks.

Habitat
Water moccasin is capable of living in swamps, marshes, edge of ponds, lakes, streams, and drainage ditches. When on land, they are located close to water and fields. In the hot conditions, they tend to lay on tree branches, logs and stones ( especially those located close to water beds). Basking in the sun will help increase their body temperature and this can be regulated when the Alabama snake moves inside water.

Diet
Water Moccasin can consume many smaller animals, especially those found close to water or wet land, these include; toads, frogs, and insects. They can also feed on Montgomery lizards that stay close to land and water.

Behaviour
The adults of these Alabama snakes can deliver a painful and deadly bite against their enemies. Though these snakes rarely bite humans, they only attack when they felt threatened. The snakes are semi-aquatic in nature , thus they can swim fast in water or live on land at any time.

Visit our Montgomery wildlife control home page to learn more about us.