Probably Arkansas's most storied snake, the cottonmouth provides plenty of material for barber-shop gossip. The really remarkable thing about cottonmouth stories is that most are true. Arkansas is home to the western cottonmouth. Adults are dark olive to black. A few have vague crossbar markings.
Juveniles have bold crossbars and yellow tails.
It lives in wet areas statewide, preying on sirens, frogs, fish, birds and other snakes. Cottonmouths are active mostly at night, but people often encounter them basking in the sun on cool days. When disturbed, they usually retreat to cover if it is available. If not, they will demonstrate the origin of their common name by gaping their mouth to reveal a pinkish-white interior. This is an ill-tempered snake not inclined to yield to intruders.