Cottonmouth Water Moccasin seen today on a walking trail (photo by Sam Boatman)

[sohappytobehere]

When you are out walking the many trails in The Villages, be sure to spend the time to look closely. You wouldn't really want to miss any of our native wildlife!!!! The Cottonmouth Water Moccasin seen here in The Villages today!

[tophcfa]

Nasty venomous snake, be careful.

[Taltarzac725]

I thought that was a natural water way species and not one found in artificially created ones? They were a big threat when we lived a few hundred feet from Tarpon Lake in Palm Harbor. They would show up in pools on occasion especially if there had been a storm.

[RICH1]

That will ruin your summer.... unless of course you are an Attorney, they will leave you alone. Professional courtesy .

[thelegges]

Because of the close up pic, it’s hard to tell where it’s choosing to wait and watch. You posted on walking trail. So sitting off the trail, on the trail or in its more natural surroundings of wet area. Since kids are already visiting, grandparents, maybe a warning of to be aware of ________area where pictures were taken.

[Taltarzac725]

Because of the close up pic, it’s hard to tell where it’s choosing to wait and watch. You posted on walking trail. So sitting off the trail, on the trail or in its more natural surroundings of wet area. Since kids are already visiting, grandparents, maybe a warning of to be aware of ________area where pictures were taken.

There are natural water areas in the Southern parts of the Villages . I was visiting with a woman born here in this area a while back and she mentioned that this area was cow pastures and oranges. Think there were watermelon too.

[thelegges]

There are natural water areas in the Southern parts of the Villages . I was visiting with a woman born here in this area a while back and she mentioned that this area was cow pastures and oranges. Think there were watermelon too.

Cattle, and watermelons not much oranges, south of 44 has a large areas of wet/dry prairie, that multitude of predators call home.

Between the 6’s we backed to a pond, our snakes were predominantly racers, along with bears, coyotes, bobcats gators and one panther.

We moved south of 44 two years ago backing to a prairie. A few rattlesnakes have been spotted within the village and two Corals. Someone will always post on neighborhood site, where and when.

After Milton the walking paths that border acres of prairies, between Water Lilly and Magnolia Plaza were flooded. Multiple water moccasins were noted and warnings went out to be aware.

[Taltarzac725]

Cattle, and watermelons not much oranges, south of 44 has a large areas of wet/dry prairie, that multitude of predators call home.

Between the 6’s we backed to a pond, our snakes were predominantly racers, along with bears, coyotes, bobcats gators and one panther.

We moved south of 44 two years ago backing to a prairie. A few rattlesnakes have been spotted within the village and two Corals. Someone will always post on neighborhood site, where and when.

After Milton the walking paths that border acres of prairies, between Water Lilly and Magnolia Plaza were flooded. Multiple water moccasins were noted and warnings went out to be aware.

I am glad I do not have to worry about water moccasins here around CR466.

[Sparky99]

Beautiful snake! They are not aggressive unless provoked.

[Road-Runner]

Grew up on a lake in central Georgia, had an interesting run-in with a Cottonmouth at my birthday party where it swam the last 30 yards towards our shore, the whole while kids were throwing rocks at it trying to get it to turn. Never did turn around and got a good 25-30 feet into the yard towards the back patio where all the kids except my older brother had retreated to. He finally nailed it with a brick and it turned around and went back to the water. I was maybe 6 or 7, and can remember that snake to this day!

[MandoMan]

Cattle, and watermelons not much oranges, south of 44 has a large areas of wet/dry prairie, that multitude of predators call home.

Between the 6’s we backed to a pond, our snakes were predominantly racers, along with bears, coyotes, bobcats gators and one panther.

We moved south of 44 two years ago backing to a prairie. A few rattlesnakes have been spotted within the village and two Corals. Someone will always post on neighborhood site, where and when.

After Milton the walking paths that border acres of prairies, between Water Lilly and Magnolia Plaza were flooded. Multiple water moccasins were noted and warnings went out to be aware.

My grandparents lived on a 23 acre farm near Binghamton, New York. My grandmother never walked up to the barn or the spring without a shovel in her hand to decapitate any rattler she might see. She might only get a couple a year, but she was never bitten. If I walk on trails around here, I always carry a walking stick. I might not beat a water moccasin to death with it, but I can at least urge it away from the path so people can walk by.

[jarodrig]

This cotton mouth beauty was crossing the golf cart path at one of the executive courses “down south” …..

[Taltarzac725]

This cotton mouth beauty was crossing the golf cart path at one of the executive courses “down south” …..

It seems to be striking a pose!

[Taltarzac725]

As a teen I used to go rattlesnake hunting with Bobby around Rattlesnake Mountain in Reno, Nevada . His bedroom had various rattlesnake skins as trophies. He only took me along once as I kept on bumping into rocks and was scaring away the rattlesnakes. Clumsy me .

[jarodrig]

It seems to be striking a pose!

I think he was begging for a treat ! 😂

[Nana2Teddy]

I thought that was a natural water way species and not one found in artificially created ones? They were a big threat when we lived a few hundred feet from Tarpon Lake in Palm Harbor. They would show up in pools on occasion especially if there had been a storm.
I’m pretty sure Lake Okahumpka in St Johns Village, and right across Meggison from Richmond Village is a natural lake. Also, the many preserve/swamp areas we have in DeLuna have produced cottonmouth and rattlesnake sightings, and Cottonmouths have been seen on the Hogeye MMP as well as in the grassy areas alongside it. There are many areas of natural waterways down here south of 44.

[msilagy]

I stepped smack dab on top of one laying in the middle of a hiking trail in Marshall Swamp. There were 30+ of us hiking . It felt like hard rubber and I jumped away immediately. It did. not strike but reared it's head that showed teeth and white mouth - thus cottonmouth. I did some research and found out they had done a study in 2004 and these very deadly venomous snakes only bit when stepped on 20% of the time. They are generally not proactive but please stay away. I was very lucky and may have loss use of part of my body or worse if he had bit me!

[Joe C.]

If I see one, and am absolutely sure that it's a cottonmouth, I WILL kill it. Absolutely venomous ..... and it's not passive like racers. It's normally aggressive and will usually not hesitate to bite. If it has just eaten a meal, it will not be in the mood to attack .....but then I'm not going to ask.

[roguesearcher]

when you are out walking the many trails in the villages, be sure to spend the time to look closely. You wouldn't really want to miss any of our native wildlife!!!! The cottonmouth water moccasin seen here in the villages today!

wow!