A Walk on THE Snake Road! Cottonmouth Migration in Southern Illinois

I finally did it. I made the trip to infamous Snake Road, in the LaRue Pine Hills of southern Illinois. This fantastic place is loaded with an incredible density of snakes, an equally impressive diversity of species, and a strong presence fellow snake appreciators!
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2023 Species List: 158
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[@aaronwilcox6417]

That is living hell for me.

[@wendyh2708]

Oh hell no! I wouldn't get out of the car!

[@brookyork902]

Snake road....oh no!

[@Woobsmom.StacyH]

My God; that is quite literally what I think the pathway to hell looks like.

[@zuzupetals6025]

Why YT put this in my feed, I have no clue. This is absolutely terrifying and my worst nightmare. 😂

[@oldmcdonald3376]

couldnt pay me enuff to walk that road,lol

[@brendinredmond8569]

I would pay to walk it lol

[@dakf660]

@@brendinredmond8569weirdo

[@MountainmommaWV3]

I had no idea that Cottonmouth was that far north. I just learned something

[@user-tb7rn1il3q]

It’s not that far north. Illinois goes way down south.

[@verumillic1424]

It's a unique area with genuine remnants of truly southern swamps - cypress trees, spanish moss and all. I love deep southern IL, it's so much different from the rest of the state.

[@pamsummers1176]

Thiers rattlesnakes in Missouri and cotton mouths copperhead I've seen them all unfortunately I hate snakes

[@ghostwriter1415]

@@pamsummers1176 they scare me too--I suppose that's the fascination that compels us to watch, and comment on this video! Here in North Carolina, we have Rattlesnakes that swim out to sea. L/R

[@anitarice9609]

I never thought of Illinois being a hotspot for cottonmouths. You sure wouldn't want to shelter under that bluff at night.

[@rocknewtonfilsterwilly7364]

They are thick farther North as well in Central IL.

[@rocknewtonfilsterwilly7364]

@@silentnot4812 Macon and Dewitt counties for sure, can't speak personally for North of that but the prairie rattlers certainly go way up North.

[@howardsprague5146]

@@silentnot4812 FYI. As a 65 year old field herping lifelong Illinois resident, I can assure you there are NO Cottonmouths in Central Illinois. This is an established fact that can be verified through many sources. We do however have several species of watersnakes, particularly Common Watersnakes.. And of course unfortunately for those said watersnakes, they are often misidentified by the ill-informed as being Cottonmouths based on nothing more than them being snakes that are in water. This is an all too common occurrence throughout much of the sans Cottonmouth Midwest….

[@173jaSon371]

@@rocknewtonfilsterwilly7364 no they are not? lol this is about as north as cottonmouths go. That's why all these lazy northerners all go to this exact same location.

[@FischerFan]

Considering the most recent fatality attributed to a cottonmouth occurred in Southern Missouri, it's important to remember that you need not be in alligator country first.

[@dianachylewski2906]

Welcome to the neighborhood! I live against these bluffs and have had regular visits with these creatures along with copperheads, rattlesnakes, large snapping turtles, coyotes, bobcats, cougars, bears, and more. We are always aware of the wildlife that may surprise us at any time. Rural life is certainly not boring, it is amazing! Thanks for highlighting us here in Southern Illinois.

[@chadsimmons6347]

Do you or any neighbors post footage from a trail-cam? I have tried but the editing process was too much 4 me

[@Eric-wj9cu]

I'm a Lifelong PA resident, but I lived in Marion for about a year for work. The first time i ever saw a snake out in the wild was living there, and saw many of them in that short time... That and my first pack of wild coyotes i spotted outside of Cape Girardeau. One of my only decent memories out that way, lol

[@deedk]

Theres a place I'll never go! As a lifelong Illinois resident I've never heard of it and will RUN if I ever happen upon it!

[@davidwelty9763]

This is literally my worst nightmare.

[@MtHockey]

Stay out of the forest! It is a deadly place, few who enter will exit!

[@jakebrouillette8268]

L Take. I’d KILL to be able to go here and one day will go

[@dabneyoffermein595]

Look at the bright side, at least they're not poisonous.

[@wecanjump7512]

Me too. I hate southern Illinois

[@BassYakCam]

Especially the cottonmouth right behind the giant spider.

[@terrifiorelli9819]

I better not have a nightmare after watching this.

[@nicholash8021]

Shorts and sneakers in cottonmouth-infested trails with plenty of leaf litter for them to hide in... I'm glad I'm on this side of the screen.

[@sugartreefordman7293]

Perfect place......not to go!

[@swimssnakeyadventures9127]

I'm gonna cry dude, I wanna meet you so bad and I come here all the time! Lol for real though I'm glad you got a chance to check the place out, it's my favorite place on earth to date! Edit: that so crazy you were talking to my buddy and his grandpa! You must've been there right before I got there as it turns out, that's crazy lol.

[@Bangitout6]

Damn get wrecked

[@SkiSkillsMontana]

No wonder he left before he met you .

[@pamhutson475]

​@@SkiSkillsMontanaThat's funny.😊😅

[@HazBroTube529]

Lol..internet.. here’s a fan that is saying he wishes to meet one of his favorite KZbinrs and gets met with degenerates on the other side of a keyboard.

[@edwardammons]

❤😅😅

[@fuqoff8583]

Learned something new. I always thought cottonmouth’s were a southern snake.

[@fix135]

Southern Illinois IS southern. This area is roughly the same latitude as the Virginia/North Carolina border.

[@dabneyoffermein595]

@@fix135 wow, thanks for that. Also, have you ever been bitten by a Cotton-Mouth? or other snakes?

[@ThePollaton]

What an incredible space. Thankfully it’s protected and the snakes get to live their lives in peace. ❤

[@douglasstemke2444]

Was just there two weeks ago. 12 Cottenmouths, 1 Northern Watersnake, 1 Yellow Bellied Watersnakes, 2 Rough Green Snakes. Sorry I missed you

[@sixteezchild]

That's the things my nightmares are made of! I'll leave Snake Road to the herp experts!

[@markusruttgers2044]

A beautiful piece of earth that we should keep. A stark contrast to what is happening in the world. Luckily, something like this happens and you can share it with us. Best wishes from Düsseldorf Germany.

[@smetlogik]

I'm thinking 2024 is a return trip for the Smetlogik crew. Can't miss Mike's 30 yr celebration. Mike and Justin are both good people.

[@HuntersHerporium]

Another great video from noah right? His content is why I actually go out and go herping myself and make vids too Love the content both of you guys!! :) Love to go to snake road some day

[@smetlogik]

@@HuntersHerporium Noah makes solid content on a consistent basis, good stuff for sure. Put Snake Rd on that bucket list, you won't regret it.

[@HuntersHerporium]

yeah won't regret it I'm sure Happy Halloween@@smetlogik

[@jaynebennett3401]

Two,words I will never put together “Beautiful Snake!” And I would never be found in a cave with a snake of any kind! Interesting but creepy video!

[@MtHockey]

What is creepy are people who don't try to understand the creatures that they share the world with, and simply fall back on their fears and lack of knowledge about the natural world that they are part of.

[@jaynebennett3401]

@@MtHockey I have studied snakes extensively because I have a fear of them! My fears in your opinion may be irrational but you don’t know my story, I was tortured as a child by a drunken abusive father who thought it would be funny to put snakes in all sorts of places for my sisters and I to find ! Some of these snakes were venomous! So don’t tell me I don’t understand these creatures, maybe you are the one that should TRY to be a little less judgmental!

[@MtHockey]

@@jaynebennett3401 In your case you are correct, and I apologize, but as a herpetologist who is in the field, I have seen animals that are tortured or are intentionally run over by cars, dens sites that are shot up, and general stupidity toward wildlife; and to that mentality, I will not apologize.

[@jaynebennett3401]

@@MtHockey Thank you, while I find snakes creepy, I still respect them and believe they have a purpose on Earth.

[@JordanGooden-ue3yg]

Lmao

[@20mp09]

As a southern Illinoisan, glad you enjoyed your trip here!

[@TDC7594]

Had no idea cottonmouths were in Illinois. They're pretty much absent in Kentucky, except maybe for the most southern part.

[@KawiKlx143]

I just got bit by a copperhead 3 weeks ago 10/10 dont recommend 😂

[@ilovetomorrow]

Living in Southern Virginia, I had no idea there are cottonmouths in Illinois.

[@nighthiker8872]

Never knew there were Cottonmouth in Illinois! just thought they were far south gulf snakes!

[@geekfreak618]

IL has them along the many canals all over the state. Here near STL they are in many suburban areas along those waterways. In numbers where they become a nuisance for residents of those areas. They sure aren't shy about visiting people's houses! The bluffs that pop up here and there along the Mighty Miss and IL River has all three venomous species found in IL. The copperheads, cottonmouths and rattlesnakes. When I lived up in those bluffs I was glad I had plenty of black snakes in residence to keep those species at bay.

[@FischerFan]

No, that would be the Eastern Diamondback rattlesnake. Their distribution is mainly coastal.

[@KeemyCraft]

Nice video! I went to snake road recently and got the chance to see nkfherping, and all of the amazing wildlife!

[@HuntersHerporium]

personally that's cool

[@Fozzdaddy12]

It was so awesome to meet you man! 16:16

[@TheIndigoEclipse]

I dont mind at all seeing all these Cottonmouths. They're very sassy snakes. I love that sharp angle they have at the end of their heads. They might be common, but they're still beautiful. Some had some fairly bright patterns too.

[@randallsmith1664]

It was my distinct pleasure to meet you at LaRue on October 6th. I was the guy who called your name after we passed and was a bit flabbergasted that it was actually you. As a life long Herper, I absolutely love Snake Road. I am fortunate to live about 125 miles from there, so I spend 15-20 days a year there in both the Spring and Fall. Thanks for taking a few minutes to talk to me and letting me fanboy a bit. I suggest a trip in the Spring as well. The Amphibians seem much more present in the Spring and their diversity is just as impressive as the Snakes.

[@jakebrouillette8268]

What all can u find there? I’m far af in Louisiana but one day I WILL go. How easy is it to find Garters there? Also what time of the year should I go? Is May (like this May or June) a good time!!? Shii I’m boutta turn 23 in May and wanna do something fun.

[@typicalshenaniganz]

Yay, he went to snake road! So cool you got out with Mike Pingleton, just listened to his snake talk episode with Cris Jenkins!

[@goodvideos.113]

I'm so happy to be able to watch all of your videos from A to Z. 22:11

[@toddpatik8834]

Living in Wisconsin almost everyone thinks Illinois is the home of the flat landers 😂...... But ive been all over southern Illinois and have seen those cliff formations and also some in southern Indiana and it was beautiful

[@silverstar4289]

Yes, I am I. South central Indiana. Top notch motorcycle riding and hiking in the Ohio river area. I hear great things about southern Illinois, too Cottonmouths are very uncommon here, fortunately. Copperheads can be docile, but cottonmouths have aggressive reputation

[@reesharroun4938]

I've been going twice a year for the past 5 years and I love going. The community of herpers and other naturalists that make the trip from all over always blows me away. It truly is a special place.

[@Jameskenomis3]

Never would have guessed Illinois would have a place like this. I’m from the South and I’m used to seeing snakes. We have cotton mouths everywhere in East Texas. We also see tons of copperheads. I lived in Florida as a kid and saw Florida cottonmouths.

[@Coltbreath]

This looks like an Epic life journey!

[@GassersGhost]

Show them the respect they deserve and there won't be a problem. As it should be.

[@Pwrcritter]

Cottonmouths in Ill, who woulda thought..

[@crisprtalk6963]

Wow good lookin' chicken of the woods!

[@Brian-gh7fj]

It will never cease to amaze me how people KNOWINGLY venture into such a dangerous location and nonchalantly walk around in shorts, bare legged and flemsy walk shoes where you in a hour you come across a dozen things that could strike your unprotected skin and kill you.

[@bluehorseshoe5450]

These snake hunters are more well spoken then others I’ve met hehe

[@iandeery7434]

Snakes be snakin

[@Volker_GR]

What an incredible place! Thank you for taking us there. I love snakes from a certain distance, so your video is perfect for me. I probably wouldn't even enter this snake road for $1,000 as a gift, too much respect for the silky-smooth mouth of this species... 🙂Greetings from Germany, where we only have two species of venomous snakes, vipera berus and vipera aspis. I've never seen one in the wild; they are very rare and shy.

[@Dinos676]

I love your videos I'm making my own soon!!!

[@joetheagent]

Really cool episode Noah! What an amazing habitat! I'm glad people respect and value it. Nice that you got to meet some viewers too

[@Jeff-le4od]

⁹oòyy

[@dirtwhisperer658]

Nice video and good job with the editing. I have been looking for a video like this for years. The reason why is because a friend of mine showed me a picture on his phone one day of cotton mouths "migrating" across a 4 wheeler trail. This was in N MS. It was springtime and the snakes were moving from higher ground back down to the Yocona River bottom. It was unreal how many snakes were in that photo and most of them were huge. I would say there was at least 12 in the picture. I have told people that story and they act like they don't believe me or say "I don't think snakes migrate". This video proves that they do exactly that. Anyway my friend said it really shook them up seeing that many cotton mouths in one place and they didn't want to run over any, so they turned around and went back. I have a great deal of respect for snakes and I'm glad to see your research and videos. Thanks for posting!

[@tangledline]

Very awesome! Thanks guys.

[@oldmommaoutdoors7787]

I love the outdoors but snakes have been my biggest fear. I can watch your videos because I know I am not in the same place as the snakes. I am better about the non venomous snake but I am still terrified of the venomous. With that being said I hope you have enjoyed your time in Southern Illinois! I hope you got to see more of the beautiful Shawnee National Forest! If you go to the Garden of the Gods, you will see copperheads in that area.

[@theuneducatedbiologist9637]

I want to say, I appreciate you watching these videos and learning more about the very thing that scares you. Hopefully, you can begin to learn to love them like us! One of us! One of us! One of us!😂

[@richardreeves9689]

We call them ,Mr no shoulders.

[@stanleyhape8427]

​@@richardreeves9689 Danger noodle

[@bevkern3858]

Wow I'm sorry I hate all snakes but there is kn pretty snakes 😮

[@TupeloBranch]

Awesome video, I have family in Illinois and will be asking to make the drive next time I visit. I live in the low-country of SC probably pretty close to you and I haven't seen a cottonmouth or copperhead in years. Although I don't primarily herp I hunt turkey, ducks, and deer and still have not seen much lately. Believe it or not it's probably been 10 years since I have seen a copperhead or cottonmouth in the wild even when I am in the woods 2-3 days a week for multiple hours at a time (other than a beautiful copperhead I admired in horticulture class about 5 years ago). My typical finds are eastern king snakes, Eastern ribbon snakes, black racers, banded water snakes, ring necks, and the occasional rough green snake every couple years falling out of trees on me. I have even tried flipping structures recently to no avail. I have never seen any rattlers in the wild so those are on my list, mud snakes, corns, hognose, brown snakes, and corals I have never seen either. I know one of these days I will stumble upon some in the forests I hunt and explore. Until then I will keep searching and enjoying the bird life around me. Happy herping and keep up with the fun content!

[@stefanostokatlidis4861]

First time I see the Snake Road live on video. Probably a must visit, even just due to its good reputation. Curiously, no cottonmouth tried to display at all.

[@Voorhees707]

What an amazing place.Its great to know people respect this place and that so many herpers keep it safe. Definitely on my bucket list.

[@jasonstorie8740]

Your close enough to my area, reelfoot lake it’s in the very northwest corner of Tennessee you should herp that area it’s all swamp and absolutely loaded. I’m from the obion county side of reelfoot.

[@shaneflickinger]

I applied for a job on the Shawnee NF about a year ago, and I remember this was one of the first things I discovered when I was researching the area. Very cool to see the spot on video. Thanks.

[@jenn1234]

Cool place Noah! I have never heard of this place, but I would love to visit! I am so glad you had a good time and it was really great learning about it. Have a great weekend!!! 😄💙🐬🐍🐊🫶🏼

[@Studer86]

Truly incredible place! I made my first trip out there last October. Absolutely beautiful scenery, plenty of snakes and everyone there is really nice and shares a passion for wildlife. I've now spent 6 days on the road (2 last October, 2 in April and 2 more this October, just a couple of days after you left). Looking forward to the spring migration!

[@Malmo117]

Wow that’s a bunch of snakes. TFS

[@billystephens9255]

Wow I didn't think cotton mouth came this far north.

[@TheMVCoho]

Well interesting place and I'm glad you and many others are enjoying it. I definitely don't understand the snake attraction but, enjoy it and stay safe.

[@bluetickbeagles116]

Looks like a great place to lay a sleeping bag for the night 😂😂

[@drewhuff3457]

Snake at 9:40 looks like a copperhead.

[@dianayount2122]

i have traveled fr michigan x 2 to enjoy the wonders of snake road. it is magical

[@elizabethkane6665]

Heartwarming to see families and friends sharing their lifelong joy of herping … snake lovers united !

[@lhender]

That’s an awesome place!

[@jamesvogel5304]

Went on very memorable field trips there as a student at SIU, and took my wife on our first date there years later. Live in Maine now, a state with few snakes, and no cotton mouths, and have enjoyed telling people about it. Hope to return some day, thanks!

[@Notmep]

New to Kansas here, absolutely petrified of ALL snakes, earthworms too! Copperheads keep me inside and no idea if cottonmouths here too

[@TWHerping]

We went out to snake road 2 weeks after you and got ≈75 snakes 7 species. Too bad we missed you 😢.

[@JustinMichels]

Love it. So great to meet up and hang out. You're awesome, you both are.

[@jimyoung688]

Great episode!

[@willd639]

While the snakes were awesome, I think the millipede dropping the giant deuce at the end made it for me….. 😂

[@DukeofHesse-he7bu]

Some of the snakes you identify as cotton mouths look like copperheads.

[@richardhincemon]

Juvenile Cottonmouths looks like Juvenile Copperheads with yellow tip tails no Copperheads in the video.

[@brunobarks6544]

Great shot of the millipede taking a poo. 👍 lol

[@carltoncarnivores]

So I literally missed seeing you guys by a single day...I left the area that rainy morning (found a box turtle a few miles south of the area on the way out though), was wandering about the couple days before. A bit surreal recognizing the exact spots you're at for once...

[@smscoal8579]

Great video. I’m happy to sit comfortably in my home and watch. I’m trying to get over my fear of snakes and walking among them might not do it!

[@scuffedgravyboat]

I remember hearing about Snake Road from the old Herping With Dylan days back when I was first getting into herping and it’s cool to now see Noah walk it too.

[@michaelmaggini9160]

Nice werk, I live in CO and had the opportunity to catch the migration in full force . Grand Slammed it. One timber handful of copper heads and like 30 moccasins. Tried to find morels but couldn't get my eyes in the game due all the snakes moving around.. thanks

[@bebopkirby]

This looks like a wonderful place to take the wife and kids out for a walk in nature to enjoy the beautiful flora and fauna.

[@maxpine6113]

Neat! Heard a lot about it from a coworker when I was working in Carbondale last summer, but never went out there.

[@thomasaustin6360]

I live in Rockingham County North Carolina. It's amazing how many people think water snakes are cottonmouths here. They do not live here. I once in the fourth grade did a report on this. I made an A.

[@richardhincemon]

Cottonmouths live in the Southeastern quarter of N.C. coastal plains and long leaf pine forest they don't live in the Piedmont or any mountains of NC where the Nerodia sepidon northern watersnake are mistaken for the Akistrodon piscivorus Aka cottonmouth watermoccasin.

[@casualobserver77]

This is so cool Noah! I've been there many times. Such an amazing place to visit and see amazing herps. You're on my home turf and it's awesome to see... Keep up your superb content!

[@JJE2010MO]

I live 2 hours from this hell hole. I'm not sure it's far enough!

[@eddieharris8547]

My most interesting things there were a May 7th trip where I didn't see a single cottonmouth. Mostly rough greens. Another trip I saw a guy collecting morels and other mushrooms. Had a buddy that got over 200 cottonmouths one day in October. I've never had an exceptional visit there.

[@davidsorensen7438]

I’m glad to see Kaitlin- managed to survive both those attacks -

[@tammywilmot9162]

Very cool vid and I really enjoyed it. I like the shots of the area, the swamp and bluffs and of course, all the snake sightings. For a novice like me, some of the cotton mouths looked somewhat like copperheads. In my area, the moccasins are always dark-colored, mostly black. It's easy to understand why " location location location" is such a big issue! The interviews were good, not too long but just enough to be interesting. It's a well done episode! You did a good job!

[@sw6155]

I don’t wanna ever get anywhere near that road to hell! 🫣😖😖

[@JimHerbertOutdoors]

Nice to see a snake road video from you 👍 I'm from IL, been there probably 50-75 times

[@petercarmeci8317]

Noah, you outdid yourself. I was planning on making a trip there next year. That place is awesome.

[@steelbob3]

Glad you enjoy southern Illinois. We have a pretty special place. I've met a lot of lifelong friends on snake road.

[@DS-pf8mw]

Really enjoyable video. Thanks for sharing.

[@christophernuzzi2780]

0:13 Cape Girardeau! There was a UFO crash there in 1941, 6 years before Roswell. A local preacher was called by first responders (they initially thought it was a plane crash) to administer last rites to the dying occupants. I know that sounds strange, but keep in mind this was rural Missouri in 1941. (Cape Girardeau is just across the Mississippi from Illinois.) His children and grandchildren still tell the story.

[@carriegarrett1527]

I grew up on the edge of Shawnee Forest (near Goreville) and never realized how snake rich the area was. Great video!

[@livinglifeonlifesterms2450]

Dope ass spot man! Reminded me of Ozarks in Arkansas

[@sabre5807]

This was so wholesome ❤

[@cctn2012]

Man that is a lot of snakes i live in east TN now but lived in S IL a few years as a young boy near Vieanna in Tunnel Hill and we saw a lot of snakes there as well. I have heard of that location but seeing this video wow seeing it is crazy thanks for putting it up!

[@nmherper]

You panned over a cricket frog at 8:42 on the bluff (not sure if you saw it). I missed you by a few days!

[@tm13tube]

I’ve been looking out for cottonmouth’s since I was five. No one, no one has ever told me they were anything other than very dark matte, cottony mouth and a fake rattle they shake but without sound.

[@kenamaro3942]

I love the markings on those baby Cottons..

[@liberty5069]

Every road in my home state of Louisiana could be called Snake Road. lol

[@Ojb_1959]

My buddy in the 80s collected Cottonmouth’s from Manchac Swamp near New Orleans for research at various medical centers. One cool spring morning I went to his house for lunch after he had returned from the swamp and after I knocked on the door and he said come in. Unexpectedly as I stepped inside there were at least 50 very still Cottonmouth’s on his living room floor that he was sorting out to bring in. He had probably 200 other snakes in his home then from 2 13’ Reticulate Pythons to a 8’ Siamese Cobra, legless lizards and some beautiful poisonous frogs. Where Y@ Bob, Joeymundo & Kerry🤘🏼🐍✈️🏍️🎭

[@jamesblake7338]

Wow very cool place!

[@Jessewayne79]

down here in the South we run from those and yall go looking for them

[@JimHerbertOutdoors]

Holy cow 1 mil views !!! Nice job man I wish my snake road vid got half of that