A turkey hunter moving through the woods early in the morning nearly stepped directly on a large, dark snake stretched across the grass. Its thick body and almost completely black coloration immediately raised one frightening possibility: could it be a venomous cottonmouth, commonly called a water moccasin?

The identification isn’t as simple as judging by color. Several snakes across the southern United States become extremely dark as adults, including harmless watersnakes, while adult cottonmouths can also appear nearly black. Wildlife experts specifically warn that these species are frequently confused with one another.

In this case, the snake’s heavy body, broad-looking head and dark coloration make a cottonmouth a strong possibility. Adult cottonmouths commonly range from dark brown or olive to nearly black, and their markings can become almost invisible as they age. They are venomous pit vipers native to much of the southeastern United States.

However, a photograph alone—especially without knowing the exact location or seeing diagnostic features clearly—isn’t enough to make a completely certain identification. Dark adult watersnakes can look remarkably similar and can even flatten their heads when threatened, making them appear more viper-like. Features such as facial markings, pupils and heat-sensing pits provide better identification than body color alone.

So the safest answer is that this appears consistent with a cottonmouth, but should not be treated as a certain identification from the photo alone. Anyone encountering a large dark snake in cottonmouth territory should give it plenty of space rather than attempting to touch or move it. That near-step could have been harmless—or it could have put the hunter dangerously close to a venomous snake.