Be Cautious in Water Snake Encounters

Ah, the pleasures of summertime: swimming, sunbathing, snakes. Encounters with snakes are all but inevitable for anyone who spends much time near water. The most common water-dwelling snake in the Metro Atlanta area is the harmless, non-venomous midland water snake. However, Georgia is also home to the venomous cottonmouth snake, an aggressive species with a potentially fatal bite. A water snake will quickly submerge beneath the surface of the water to make a getaway when he senses you're near, but a cottonmouth will stand his ground and strike if he feels threatened. To the untrained eye, it can be difficult to distinguish between these two species; unless you're an expert at snake identification, it's best to back away calmly and allow any snake you come across to make his own escape. If a snake should drop into your boat from an overhanging branch, carefully give him a lift -- from a safe distance -- with a fishing rod or paddle, and your visitor will eagerly return to the water.