Cottonmouths are fairly docile.
Cottonmouths docile?
You're kidding right?
Cottonmouths are extremely shy. If they see or feel you approaching, they are gone in a flash, and won't soon return. Water snakes are "friendly", and tend to become habituated to people. I've even seen them come near to me and wait for me to catch fish.
Almost any snake will bite you in self defense if stepped on or handled. If a big ole giant picked me up and I thought he was going to eat me, I expect I would try to bite him.
