Cottonmouth Strikes

Artist: KSkinner
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Card: US$4.66
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Cottonmouth Strikes

Cottonmouth Strikes – Shot in the DeLoutre Swamps, remote Union Parish Louisiana.

Cottonmouth Water Moccasin – Agkistrodon piscivorus

This guy had a very nasty disposition when I stumbled upon him after breaking camp early one morning during one of my extended trips in the swamps, These snakes are very aggressive and venomous – use extreme caution around these snakes!

All work © Keith Skinner – All Rights Reserved
No image may be reproduced, copied, transmitted or distributed by any means without prior written consent.

Cottonmouth Strikes belongs to the following groups:

! 100% !, Bird's Eye View, Eye Contact (Animals Only), High Quality Animal Images - 1 Submission a Week, In the Eyes of Danger, JPG Cast-Offs, Mangroves, Marshes and Mudflats, Nature's Wonders, PostCard Style (Describe your image please) Limit 2 per day) and Wild Nature Photography & Writing Available for sale as

Greeting Cards, Matted Prints, Laminated Prints, Mounted Prints, Canvas Prints and Framed Prints

SaRaHKnOwDoG

Holy crap !!! Did he follow Ya ? Did he calm down ? Wow!
KSkinner replied

Yes he followed me to my boat…I left him alone after that! These snakes are very aggressive when you invade their space.
SaRaHKnOwDoG

I can not believe you got that shot !!! ?
KSkinner replied

I have quite a collection of images of these nasty snakes. I will get around uploading them all soon.
SaRaHKnOwDoG

COOL !
Hey ! Skinner ….. Let us know what you think of the work i just put up ? I have to do something for this exhibition i can not back out of and i need some feed back !
presbi

One word only: SUPERB!!!!! And what a bravery and cold blood you had shooting it. Sergio
KSkinner replied

Thanks presbi – This guy was really nasty, and didn’t play well with others!
KcranmerArt

OMG I would have jumped 20 feet before I got that shot, lol….awesome timing K!
KSkinner replied

Thanks for the comment KcranmerArt. I wear snake books in the swamps because of these snakes. I have been struck with the snake boots on and it left a heck of a bruise on my ankle.
NautilusBlue

I would need clean undies if I were in your shoes. That’s just too close for comfort. Great shot!!!
KSkinner

Thanks, Didn’t soil myself but certainly had to do a paper test after the situation calmed down!
Gerard Rotse

Fantastic timing and great shot.
KSkinner replied

Thanks Gerard
Gracey

Now that’s scary – good job on this – nerves of steel I guess :)
KSkinner replied

If you know your safe zone and stay in it, all is well. I get a little carried away at times – with a camera in your face your perception of distance is lacking, I have to restrain myself at times to not get too close.
Ginger Barritt

Holy Moley…..........I’d be doing some dancin’ !
KSkinner replied

I’ve done the Cottonmouth Shuffle more than once Ginger. It’s neither refined or visually appealing! Thanks for the comment
stickelsimages

We have some nasty little suckers over here in Aus & our tiger snakes can get pretty feral at times. There’s one that lives about 50 feet from where I’m typing this to you. That’s the one I know about! I live in farmland & it’s their territory! But this shot is a wee bit awesome & I’ve seen film of cottonmouths! They’re nasty little SOB’s. I parked my ride on mower wheel on a tiger snake one day to get a photo & he didn’t react. But it wasn’t that good a photo, I only got the top of his head! I don’t think I’m as brave as you are tho!!!! Holy crap that photo gives me shivers… amazingly well done! I can’t fav it, I’ll have nightmares! Just you keep safe. Cheers Lee
KSkinner replied

I watched a documentary on Tiger Snakes recently. The Cottonmouth is very aggressive and when roused put out a very distinct odor – once you smell it you will never forget the smell. Many times I know one is close by the odor!
Victoria John ...

omg…. That looks like one that I would try to take… lol
another awesome capture!!
KSkinner

Thanks again Victoria – this was a bit risky but I did have my snake boots on – they have saved me more than once in the swamps.
Ann Rodriquez

I’m hoping this was taken with quite a zoom lens! : )
KSkinner replied

Yes Ann it was a 300 mm prime
linda858100

stunning
KSkinner replied

Thanks Linda
Tracy Faught

Holy S**t!! lol! Your very brave! This is an amazing shot, great work! I live in an area of Ontario where there tons of snakes but non of them venomous. Once though, I was bitten by a very old and rather big Garter or Garden snake…they have “lovely” sharp cartilidge in their mouth’s…to help push down prey…anyway it left two bloody slits in my thumb! ouch!!! lol! Still love snakes though! ;]

Fantastic shot here, wondeful work! ;]
KSkinner replied

Thanks Tracy – these are rather nasty critters and very plentiful in my area. I wear snake boots most of the time in the swamp to prevent the risk of exposure to a bite sometimes miles deep in the swamps – a bite that deep in the swamp could be fatal!
Garth Smith

This is a great shot Keith – the timing required is split second although I suppose nerves would make you flinch on the shutter at about the same time as you “cacked your dacks”.
KSkinner replied

Thanks Garth
Jan Piller

Whoa! You either have a great zoom or… well never mind… fantastic shot!
KSkinner replied

Thanks Jan – this is one of my favorite shots from my swamp shoots
jdimages

Outstanding work!!!
KSkinner replied

Thanks jdimages
Emmahleee

Omg..

I cannot believe you captured this!

Well done
KSkinner replied

Thanks so much for your comment Emmahleee
dinghysailor1

eek! glad you survived to tell the tale….scary and astonishing stuff especially that bit about him following you back to the boat!! that s some amazing image!
KSkinner replied

He was pretty determined I was going to leave his area, thanks for the comment
Gail Bridger

Very scary but an awesome capture! You are a very brave person!
KSkinner replied

Not really brave – I just know my limits in most cases…snake-boots are a must in the swamps and use a loooooong lens! Toilet paper optional.
Gail Bridger

LOL…yes the boots would be a must, and the extra long lens! But, toilet tissue the most impt!!!! :))
Tara Sheffer-A...

Ohh wow! Fantastic shot!!!!!!!
KSkinner replied

Thanks for taking the time to view and comment on my work Tara!
Andrew Murrell

Glad that was you and not me. Congradulations on teh feature in Top Shelf Wildlife and Nature
KSkinner replied

Thanks Andrew
GlennB

Good action shot!! Nice daybreak reflection in it’s eyes too
KSkinner replied

Thanks GlennB – I have a series of images related to Cottonmouth Moccasins. Sometimes you get lucky…
Barbara Brown

Amazing capture but way too close for comfort!!
KSkinner replied

Thanks Barbara
Derek Dobbie

I had a look at your home page and this just jumped out at you…..and no wonder. Amazing photo.
KSkinner replied

Thanks Derek
Michael Kienhuis

Um, You were very brave! Great capture
KSkinner replied

Thanks for taking the time to view and comment on my work!
tarynb

WOW, great shot and WOW i hope you have a really good zoom lens!
KSkinner replied

Thanks for the comment tarynb. This was shot with a 300mm lens…
Paul Davis

Fantastic shot – and I LOVE my snakes! We don’t get cotton mouths in Australia – but plenty of great snakes anyway :) I think this picture would beautifully suit the group In the eyes of Danger
KSkinner replied

Thanks for taking time to view and comment on my work Paul. I’ll check out the group! You have some nice work in your portfolio as well… K
DutchLumix

Awesome capture !!!
How cute ;)
Kind Regards,
Erik
KSkinner replied

Thanks for takeing the time in viewing my work.
Eric Abernethy

Did he actually strike or was the gape more of a show. I have seen hundreds of these in the swamps in NC, its funny because they will gape their mouths and smack their tails on the ground, but I have never seen one strike at me. I will post a few pick in here later. Great shot, I love the eyes!
KSkinner replied

Yes he actually struck – you’re correct on the mannerisms.