Hello from Baton Rouge

[waltinbatonroug]

I'm walt, originally from New Orleans. have been interested in snakes since I was a kid in the 60's...

I live on a 6 acre lake in Baton Rouge and am constantly amazed by the dozens of "water moccasins" that everyone seems to see during this time of year.

Unfortunately, since I'm the "snake guy" in the neighborhood I'm the one called to identify all the dead water snakes that people shoot, whack with shovels, hit with lawn mowers etc.

Any ideas how to gently educate folks on the fact that about 90% of the snakes around here are harmless and that if you leave alone you'd both be better off?

I realize there are some venomous ones about, here's a pic of one I collected and donated to the local bluebonnet swamp park yesterday..He looks bigger than he is..

its a pleasure to be here..thanks

[Karighan]

Hi, Walt! I'm from New Orleans, as well. I moved to Washington last year; it's still a huge culture-shock. I am jonesing for some good boudin!

As for education, it's hard. Louisiana as a whole possesses a different mindset about animals than any other place in the country. (A dog is a dog-- not a member of the family. They belong in the yard, ect.)
It's really hard to change beliefs and phobias. Especially in an area that is so vehemently Southern Baptist; with the serpent being tied intimately to evil imagery.

The only thing that comes to mind is perhaps having some tame-stock and do an educational program in youth groups.

[KarenL]

Welcome Walt! We have the same problem here in Tennessee. We get stopped by locals when we are field herping and when we say we are looking for snakes, more often than not the response is something along the lines of "I killed a couple of water moccasins here yesterday". It's heartbreaking - especially as most of the time we are on protected land. :(

[sharthun]

Hey and Welcome! Good luck with educating local folks! Cool snake btw!

[drumcrush]

Hey, welcome!

[waltinbatonroug]

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone!

Oh, can anyone shed some light on the difference in appearance between the juvenile eastern cottonmouth and the Florida variety?

from all I've read the eastern may have generally darker coloring?
so I'm thinking the one in the pic may be the Florida cottonmouth?

thoughts please...

walt

[Pirarucu]

Welcome aboard!

Based just on where you are located, I can tell you that it is not likely to be an Eastern or a Florida Cottonmouth. The only subspecies that lives in Louisiana is the Western Cottonmouth, Agkistrodon piscivorus leucostoma.

[waltinbatonroug]

wow Pirarucu thanks for the insight ....do you rely on any specific coverage map..i was trying to find the closest example on line that looked like mine.. since you gave me the lead I looked more closely at the western cm and noticed the lack of the white line next to the dark cheek band....yup its a western cottonmouth.....

...have a great evening...walt

[waltinbatonroug]

the curator of the herp exhibit in a local zoo is a dog club friend...she mentioned 2 recent gravid copperheads that bore 29 babies..heres a pic of a few ...

I have a much higher res pic if desired.

walt

[jpsteele80]

Welcome aboard

[Trent]

hi and welcome!

[mr_weatherby]

Welcome to the group!