2 of America’s Most Snake-Infested Rivers Are in Missouri

Do you have a healthy fear of snakes? If so, you'd be smart to steer clear of two Missouri rivers that were just named among the 7 most snake-infested waterways in America.

This is the one face you don't want to see on a Missouri trail near you

This brand new ranking of the 7 most snake-infested rivers in America by World Atlas reveals two that are major parts of Missouri's ecosystem. It's not exactly shocking that the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers would be home to so many snakes. They both traverse over 2,300 miles and have habitats that make it very comfortable to be a snake. There are 5 venomous snakes to watch out for in Missouri and near these rivers in particular and they include copperhead, cottonmouth, timber rattlesnakes, massasauga, and western pygmy rattlesnakes.

But aren't snakes supposed to be afraid of people?

Yes and no. It is true that most snakes (even venomous ones) only bite as a last defense mechanism. However, I've witnessed water moccasins in Missouri (aka cottonmouth) that have been aggressive. I was in a canoe on a float trip once and a water moccasin made a bee-line directly toward us. Fortunately, my adrenaline and some fast-rowing helped me get to where the snake wasn't. The bites of these snakes is vicious, too. A girl at a county fair in Missouri came up to our radio booth years ago after she had been bitten near a stream and the swelling around the bite was awful. Fortunately, we had EMT's at the fair, too, who were able to help her.

The bottom line for snakes near the Missouri River and the Mississippi River is to avoid stepping anywhere on the banks that you can't see. What's waiting for you behind a rock might end up sending you to the emergency room. If you dare to go into the river, then you're on the home turf of the cottonmouth. That's why I prefer to stay landlocked whenever possible.