Came across my favorite Florida snake recently. This beautifully marked juvenile Florida Cottonmouth was on the road at St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge. After taking a few pictures I used a stick to gently lift it off the road and into the brush. It paused briefly to taste the air with its tongue and then slithered out of view. I still haven’t been chased by a cottonmouth! This is the 11th and smallest individual (approx. 2 ft long) I’ve encountered this year, which is about average for me during the 14 years I’ve lived in Florida.
Share this:
