Which would win the battle between a Florida alligator and a cottonmouth water moccasin? . . . .

[R P Adams]

I'd Be Mighty Beholdin' To Anybody Out There Who Could Answer The Question: Can A Florida Alligator Eat A Venomous Cottonmouth Water Moccasin Without Ending Up 'Dead' From The Serpent's Bite? . . . .

[Swamp Hunter]

I dont know but I believe wild hogs are very capable of eating moccasins with no ill effects. I would guess that a gator would have no problems if the fangs dont penetrate and the poison doesnt enter the bloodstream some other way, like through an open wound..

Im just guessing but I could ask around. As far as I know a gator is not immune to the poison so it depends.

[R P Adams]

Dale said:

I dont know but I believe wild hogs are very capable of eating moccasins with no ill effects. I would guess that a gator would have no problems if the fangs dont penetrate and the poison doesnt enter the bloodstream some other way, like through an open wound..

Im just guessing but I could ask around. As far as I know a gator is not immune to the poison so it depends.

[R P Adams]

Thank You For The Leg Up, I Appreciate Anything I Can Get At This Point! . . . My Anti-Establishment Florida Cracker Ex-Viet Nam Vet Returned From The War In The 60's Is Not One That ANY-ONE Would Ever Want To Mess With! . . . A Hero Returning To The Swamps Where He Was Born And Raised, He Is Confronted With A Land-Busting Drought And A Inordinately Large (18-Foot) Cannibal Alligator Prowling The Shark River Valley. To Taunt This Beast He Tosses Hand-Caught Cottonmouth Moccasins Into The Behemoth's Mouth For Sport, And, As I Guess You Can Already Fathom: I Must Know If This Fable Is To Ring True. . . Again, Thank You For Your Help And Know That If There Ever Anything I Can Help You With, Don't Hesitate!----' Life's Too Short!'

 

[Swamp Hunter]

Where did you hear this fable?

[Swamp Hunter]

Here is a photo of a gator eating a snake that may be a moccasin. http://capturimage.smugmug.com/Nature/Paynes-Prairie-Florida-Vol-On...

 

I would imagine gators eat moccasins all the time. Even if bitten, I doubt the gator would die. It may make him miserable for some time and damage tissue if bitten inside the mouth but he would probably survive the encounter.