From Kansas to Central Indiana to Pennsylvania, Many People Believe

Multiple Choice

From Kansas to central Indiana to Pennsylvania, many people believe that they have water moccasins (also called "cottonmouths") in their ponds. Some assert they have seen them, although they are certainly not so foolish as to try to capture one alive. Meanwhile, the fish and game offices and the range maps in the herpetology books indicate that this poisonous snake does not breed this far north. What is the most scientific attitude to assume on this issue?

A) Observations by both the public and the fish and game officers are subjective so this is not easily resolved objectively.
B) A simple field trip to the pond locations-that resulted in the capture and confirmation of the identity of the snakes-would settle the matter.
C) Scientific books with range maps are based on field research and, therefore, determine the truth in this case.
D) Because living organisms are active, scientific theories in biology always change.