St. Pete Wildlife: Florida Cottonmouth

A Florida cottonmouth basks in the sun on the water bank. According to the Florida Museum of Natural History, the cottonmouth is one out of six venomous snakes in Florida. 

Thanks to the information board at the entrance of the trail, I was forewarned to watch out for them and stay away! I was quite safe on the boardwalk when I took these photos.

Florida Cottonmouth
(Agkistrodon piscivorus conanti)
Look along the water's edge, on the bank, or on a rock or log for this snake basking. It is one of the three venomous snakes here in the park, so you can look, but do not disturb!

The Florida Museum of Natural History has more information on the species: Florida Cottonmouth, Cottonmouth Moccasin, Water Moccasin, Moccasin


“One’s destination is never a place,
but a new way of seeing things.”
– Henry Miller

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