Water moccasin's that chase you

[natas]

Ok, here in Texas (and I am sure in other states) everyone who hunts or fishes has a friend or family member that has a story of a water moccasin chasing them.

I have heard this story from 2 family members (both who swear up and down it happened to them) and from atleast 3 friends. Basically each person claims they were either hunting or fishing and stumbled up on a female water moccasin. Once the water moccasin sees them she then starts to chase them (run them off I guess). One of my friends claimed that a water moccasin fell out of the tree and chased him down.

Now since this is such a common thing around here you would think more people would be bitten. You would also think that warning signs and education on the subject would be widely known. But rather than us getting official warnings about the subject we get "common urban legand knowledge".

I have stumbled upon many water moccasin's in my life while fishing and I have yet to have on chase me down.

[wreckwriter]

Ever run across a coachwhip?

[natas]

Actually I remember my dad catching a coachwhip when I was younger. I remember that snake being really quick and giving my dad a hard time. I was really young at the time so I don't remember much more then than

[wreckwriter]

Lots of stories about them chasing people too. Never seen it happen but its more believable with them than CM for me. Of course there's also stories that they can take their tail in their mouth and roll downhill like a hula hoop

[natas]

Haha I would love to see a snake do that. Thinking about it right now is making me laugh

[JuliusSqueezer]

My coachwhip chases me lol..My canebrake and fla cotton will charge the door at me when I open it. I think they miss me sometimes and want to give me a little kiss when they see me. In the wild, I've never had a pitviper of any kind move towards me. They tend to eaither hold their ground and protect their personal space or if they have a chance will turn and make a slow run for cover...except copperheads and corals who will usually turn and run for cover quicker and with a lot more speed. Racers are similar in color but nothing close to the body weight of a western cottonmouth. Maybe they are confusing racers and cottons out there? If you startle a racer and then back slowly away, they will follow an sometimes give a little charge at you. One step back in their direction though and you see nothing but a blur and leaves flying up as they turn and haul butt. A lot of people get horrified over this though about this black snake "chasing them"...and I suppose if the story doesn't get the reaction they expected from enough people, the "blacksnake" must have been a cottonmouth otherwise their story won't be frightening enough to impress anyone.

	Cottonmouth Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus) - Also known as a Water Moccasin.

[blkcrochunter]

I have never been chased by a cotton mouth, but there were times while fishing they will come to where you are casting your line in the water. They seem to not show any fear, for they will come right up on you. Also one summer I was fishing and someone hooked one, it had grabbed the fish that the guy was pulling in. I dont mess with them at all.

[natas]

Julius your probally correct on the snake being a racer. But its still a fun story I hear alot from people around here.