LOL!!,.....I totally agree on all counts!
This sort of thing happens ALL the time, both the self-proclamation of so-called "expertise", as well as the gross misidentification of snakes.
No doubt (as Larry already stated) the snake is a very fine looking example of a Diamondback Water Snake (Nerodia r.rhombifer)
Here are two less contrasting or cleanly marked "Timber Rattlesnakes" (Nerodia) doing their thing thing on a watery log..
~Doug

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"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing" 

serpentinespecialties.webs.com

"some are just born to troll and roll"


