Skip, as bright as those colors are on the cottonmouth, I suspect it recently molted. I saw a big one while turkey hunting last spring and the coloration wasn't as pronounced. I've heard varying appraisals of the aggressiveness of cottonmouths from docile to damn near full speed ahead charging. I've never had one act agressively, but then I don't try to pick them up or engage with them. I know you eagerly await cooler temps so Jackson can tag along or vice versa. wink
Gil