The Fur Real Podcast with Mark A Kyle
Oct 13, 2026 · 54 min · 16 segments
They've got venomous fangs, a fearsome reputation, and a name that sends shivers down your spine. But are water moccasins, also known as cottonmouths, really the aggressive, dangerous snakes we've…
Ryan McClearyGuestMark KyleHostSo, you know, I'm always curious, you know, uh, w- anytime I talk to anybody that whatever their expert, what are, what- whatever animal they're an expert of, there's two things that are threatening all, all animals, and generally it's, it's, it's human related, right? So it's encroaching upon their area 'cause we, as we urban sprawl and do that, that's one thing.
And the other thing is, is now the way the climate is changing, whether you believe it or not, it is warmer and things are doing that.
How is that, both of those things affecting the population? And it, it doesn't have to be cottonmouths.
Snakes in general, I'm sure they're being pushed to different areas and, you know, and does that mean that their venom is changing too because they're in a different area and all that kind of stuff?
... first of all, snakes get a bad rep to begin with, so people are more likely to just kill them because they see them.
... and so with that, we just try to do education, you know? And, and I think it's better than it used to be.
I think most people nowadays have a, just a healthy respect and stay away from them.
Um, but yeah, uh, the global climate change, and it's not just areas that are warming, 'cause, you know, reptiles actually like, tend to like warmer areas.
Um, you know, with this El Niño, this super El Niño we got that's just starting now, um, it might actually help us in Florida.
They're saying we're gonna get more rain, uh, with this, but fewer hurricanes, which is what we need.
Snakes are really good at, most of them, at conserving water, but a drought that's too long and they, they can't handle it.
So, you know, I'm always curious, you know, uh, w- anytime I talk to anybody that whatever their expert, what are, what- whatever animal they're an expert of, there's two things that are threatening all, all animals, and generally it's, it's, it's human related, right? So it's encroaching upon their area 'cause we, as we urban sprawl and do that, that's one thing.
And the other thing is, is now the way the climate is changing, whether you believe it or not, it is warmer and things are doing that.
How is that, both of those things affecting the population? And it, it doesn't have to be cottonmouths.
Snakes in general, I'm sure they're being pushed to different areas and, you know, and does that mean that their venom is changing too because they're in a different area and all that kind of stuff?
... first of all, snakes get a bad rep to begin with, so people are more likely to just kill them because they see them.
... and so with that, we just try to do education, you know? And, and I think it's better than it used to be.
I think most people nowadays have a, just a healthy respect and stay away from them.
Um, but yeah, uh, the global climate change, and it's not just areas that are warming, 'cause, you know, reptiles actually like, tend to like warmer areas.
Um, you know, with this El Niño, this super El Niño we got that's just starting now, um, it might actually help us in Florida.
They're saying we're gonna get more rain, uh, with this, but fewer hurricanes, which is what we need.
Snakes are really good at, most of them, at conserving water, but a drought that's too long and they, they can't handle it.
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