I have worked on ponds all over Georgia, some in Carolina and Alabama. I have never been "attacked" by a snake. I have been bitten by several dogs. So far the dogs are ahead on the biting score board 3 to 0. I'm not saying that snakes cant be aggressvive, I'm just saying that I have never observed this behavior. When you consider the amount that I am outdoors for work, and then factor in deer and duck season. I would say my chances of being snake bitten are better than the average guy. If given the choice on what animal I'm confronted by at work I'll choose a snake over a dog anytime. (I'll take a snake over a gator too!)
Another problem I see around here is misidentification of snakes. every snake that is observed swimming is a cottonmouth to most folks. Its not warm enough in Atlanta to have a reproducing population of cottonmouths. I have never seen a cottonmouth north of Macon, Georgia. I think their population flanks us up the Savannah river and on the other side of the state up to Rome, Georgia. I have done extensive hunting and stream surveys on those flanking rivers and have never seen a cottonmouth so I dont think the population is very big north of Augusta/ Macon line. As far as I can tell there are no cottonmouth's in Atlanta or most of north Georgia for that matter. Of the south Georgia cottonmouths I have seen they were at full speed, directly away from me.
I would encourage you to learn more about snakes and how to identify them. You dont want to kill any king snakes because they can eat other snakes and are even resistant to snake venom. A large king snake can take down an Eastern Diamondback Rattle snake. Ever seen a 7 foot rattle snake? thats one snake you dont want under your porch. I probably wouldnt been too worried about a few water snakes. As long as you dont mess with them they wont mess with you.
