One snake you should stay far, far away from if you encounter one is the Cottonmouth snake. Why? Because they’re highly venomous, so I would do your best to memorize what this snake looks like so if you should encounter one you can run for the hills (or shall I say slowly back the hell away).

According to the Smithsonian National Zoological Park, cotton mouth snakes, otherwise known as water moccasins, live in the southeastern United States, all the way from southern Virginia to Florida to eastern Texas. Water moccasins swim in swamps, marshes, drainage ditches, and at the edges of ponds, lakes and streams, so if you’re ever near water be on the lookout, especially if snakes are prevalent in the area.

COTTONMOUTH (Agkistrodon piscivorus). Length 3-4 feet. Young cottonmouths are patterned quite like a wide-banded copperhead, but the colors are not so reddish. These snakes are always found in the vicinity of water. When approached they quite often hold their ground and open their mouths widely, revealing the white lining of the mouth, a habit which gives them their common name. This heavybodied snake is dangerously poisonous and, contrary to popular belief, can bite underwater.

Whereas the copperhead is a rather mild-mannered snake, the cottonmouth has a vicious disposition. Although nocturnal, it likes to sun-bathe, and it is frequently seen basking along shorelines, stretched out on low branches or upon the bank. Where this snake occurs, it is usually common.

Ever heard of a massasauga snake? If you haven’t, it’s a type of rattlesnake, and if you’re not careful, you may come across this venomous snake during your next camping trip. Learn how to identify it, and discover just how venomous this snake is on the next page.

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