A couple years back I got spooked when I smelled a big snake while crossing the creek at the main ford. Finally bumped into the snake and he was a huge cottonmouth moccasin. I killed him, mostly because I had smelled him so often but never been able to find him. Taking him out of the ecosystem was bound to shift the local pecking order- snakes are very territorial and not big travellers.
Today Lucie and I made the cam run and I smelled another big snake at the same crossing. Couldn't see him.
I'm not absolutely inclined to identify that snake as a cottonmouth; there are several species of water snake that are often confused with cottonmouths. Of course, some people kill all snakes without regard for whether they are venomous or not, I hope you aren't among them. Snakes are important in keeping rodent populations down.
ReplyDeleteI'm curious what the snake smelled like. I've sensed some critters by smell, but that is the first time I heard of anyone smelling a snake. Cool.
ReplyDeleteDo you like killing snakes? If so...seems a bit pussified to me...
ReplyDeleteNot as pussified as insulting a man anonymously.
ReplyDeleteJames Druse
I almost always hold off on killing snakes. Just did this one because he was such a dangerous size and had been so undetectable several times before. I'm with you on leaving them alone if at all possible.
ReplyDeleteThis was defineately a cottonmouth moccasin. Check out that head.
Snakes, especially big poisonous ones, have a musky rotten-egg smell. Very powerful and unpleasant. I think it's a territorial warning as well as breeding attractant.
ReplyDelete@JamesDruse
ReplyDeleteOoooooo.......Reckon you would know.
Robert,
ReplyDeleteYou are gonna have to learn to do an old Vietnam mad-minute when you smell one of those snakes.
That will get them and heavens knows what else.