How to Catch a Cottonmouth Snake

Catch a cottonmouth snake very carefully.

Named after the defensive habit of opening their mouths and exposing the white lining inside to warn against attack, the cottonmouth snake is found mostly in the southern United States. Also known as the water moccasin, the snake lives close to water and is an excellent swimmer. The cottonmouth is a venomous snake and is aggressive, known to stand its ground when riled. The cottonmouth's venom is hemotoxic, destroying blood cells and other tissues. Use extreme caution when attempting to catch cottonmouths.

Things You'll Need

• Snake hook
• Snake gloves
• Burlap bag
• Tourniquet

Instructions

1. Take a friend or expert with you when catching snakes in case of a bite. Though not often deadly to adult humans, cottonmouth snake bites are extremely painful and can cause local tissue damage.

2. Put on snake gloves to protect palms and backs of hands from snake bites.

3. Approach cottonmouth with caution. Do not make sudden movements.

4. Observe the position of the snake's body. If it is coiled, it is ready to strike. Use your snake hook to straighten out its body to reduce its footing.

5. Scoop the snake up with the snake hook. The snake drapes its body over the U-shaped hook and has no leverage to move, making quick transport easy.

6. Drop the snake into a burlap bag and tie the bag shut if you want to remove the cottonmouth from your property. Release the snake near water.

Tips & Warnings

• Bring a tourniquet with you to compress blood flow in case of a bite, especially if you are not close to a hospital.

• Always use caution around venomous snakes.

References

• Farming for Artists: How to Catch a Snake; Baron Dagmar Oegg
• AA Animal Control: Snake Catcher
• The National Zoo: Cottonmouth Fact Sheet