Wednesday, March 27, 2013

The Water Moccasin, his Habitat, and a Recipe...

Today, I'd like to talk about the water moccasin.

The moccasin is mentioned in my book, The Legend of Ghost Dog Island. The main character, Nikki Landry, lives in the swampy bayous of Louisiana where these snakes like to live.

If you live in the deep south, you probably know to stay away from these critters that some people call cotton mouths or cotton mouth moccasins.



Which name is correct, water moccasin snake or cottonmouth? Let's see what the experts have to say.

Well, the name “water moccasin snake” is more or less a generic term used by rural
folks referring to any dark colored snake near the water. The name
“Cottonmouth” is the correct name accepted by herpetology. For the sake of
the rural folks.

Habitat
: One thing common among
most venomous snakes is that they
don’t enjoy the presence of people.
With that, most venomous snakes tend
to seek out places that have the least
amount of human contact as possible.
Well, this snake is no 
different, their optimal habitat consists
of marsh wet lands and other calm slow
moving streams, cypress swamps,
ponds and lakes. For the most part they stick to natural fixed bodies of water
with thick vegetation that provides an abundant source of food.


This range map, courtesy of USGS, shows the range of Cottonmouths.

 
You don't want to mess around with this full grown cottonmouth moccasin
 
 
 
 
Now just for fun, here's a recipe for the...
 
Water Moccasin
Cheers!
 
 
 
Add ice and ingredients in a shaker. Shake well until top becomes frosted. Then pour in a shot glass. Very smooth...
 
 

Credits:
Cotton Mouth information:  http://www.cottonmouthsnake.org/water-moccasin-snake/
Photos from: http://www.squidoo.com/cottonmouth-water-moccasin-photos

9 comments:

Sharon Ledwith said...

You're gonna need a few of those Water Moccasin beverages if you ever get bitten by the real thing! Very interesting post, Rita! I've got an Egyptian cobra featured in my new book. Never thought of showcasing that on my blog - great idea! Cheers and keep out of those dark, marshy places!

Sloane Taylor said...

Good post, Rita, but I can't handle the mocs. Now for that fine adult beverage - sure could drink a gallon of it Crown Royal is my favorite whiskey.:)

Kittie Howard said...

Ohhhh but I hate snakes. They were on the banks of False River when we'd go skiing.

But that drink, now that's a different story!

Happy Easter!

Rita Monette, Writer said...

Glad everyone enjoyed the drink, if not the serpent!

I had a couple of cousins bitten by them when we were kids, but I managed not to. Lucky I guess, because we all played around the water.

Snake Facts said...

Really interesting and fun post, i will try the drink.

Rita Monette, Writer said...

Thanks for slithering by my blog, Snake Facts. Let me know how the drink turns out. I haven't tried it myself. :-O

Chri$runs said...

This is one reason why I miss NY over NC. You could go to a lake without the threat of death..and since I am a long-distance Runner, I'd love to Kayak some lakes. But NOT around here (RALEIGH NC).... :(. It would take a fifth of Crown Royal Alone to get me in a Kayak in the south...

Rita Monette, Writer said...

I don't like any snakes! Live in Tennessee now and have seen only one black snake in ten years. I don't think we have moccasins here. 😜

Bigjohnson said...

In middle tn. We do..in every water way...