Upset Young Water Moccasin

Boy, did this young Water Moccasin on the auto tour road get upset! A utility terrain vehicle passing by really got it worked up. I’m sure me being around had something to do with it, too, but it definitely wasn’t a fan of the sound or movement of the UTV. A refuge employee was waiting for me to finish so he could get by without disturbing me, so I motioned to him that I was done. But when he drove by, it really got the snake going. Another photographer showed up and I let him take my spot, and this young Water Moccasin finally left the road once he was done. I made sure it was safe and out of harm’s way.

Upset Young Water Moccasin
Upset Young Water Moccasin

I was able to get the shot I wanted by being outside my pickup and hand-holding my camera at the Sally Jones West Causeway in the Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma.

Technical:

  • Location: Sequoyah National Wildlife Refuge (Oklahoma)
  • Date Taken: June 9, 2020
  • Aperture: f8.0
  • Shutter speed: 1/250 sec.
  • ISO: 1600
  • Exposure Compensation: +1
  • Focal Length: 360 mm
  • Lens: Canon EF 100-400 mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS II USM (attached with a Fringer EF-FX Pro)
  • Camera: Fujifilm X-T3