Northern Water Snakes are
one of our most common snakes. Because their color patterns
aren't always the same, and also because they are often
covered with mud, water snakes are confused with other
species.
Northern Water Snakes
grow over four feet long. They can be brown, gray, reddish,
or brownish-black. They have dark crossbands on their necks
and dark blotches on the rest of their bodies. Also, the
older the snake gets, the darker it gets. An older snake
will become black.
The belly of this snake
also varies in color. It can be white, yellow, or gray.
Usually it also has reddish or black crescents (moon
shapes).
Copyright, John White
Copyright, Joseph Marsden
Northern Water Snakes live near lakes, ponds, marshes, streams, rivers, and canals; just about anywhere there is water. They are active during the day and at night. They are most often seen basking on rocks, stumps, or brush.
During the day, water snakes hunt among plants at the water's edge, looking for small fish, frogs, worms, leeches, crayfish, salamanders, young turtles, and small birds and mammals. At night, they concentrate on minnows and other small fish sleeping in shallow water.
Copyright, John White
Northern Water Snakes mate in
April and June. They are live-bearers, which means they do not lay
eggs like most snakes. Instead, they carry them inside their bodies
and give birth to baby snakes, each one six to twelve inches long. A
female may have as many as 30 young at a time. Babies are born
between August and October. Mothers do not care for their young; as
soon as they are born, they are on their own.
Northern Water Snakes have many
predators,
including birds, raccoons, opossums, foxes, snapping turtles,
bullfrogs, and other snakes.
Huntley Meadows
Park
These snakes defend themselves
viciously when they are threatened. If they are picked up by an
animal, or person, they will bite, as well as release poop and musk
(bad smelling liquid).
Northern Water Snakes often share
Winter dens with other snakes, such as Copperheads and Black Rat
Snakes.
Muskrat houses and Beaver lodges
are good places to find water snakes, which like to hide among the
sticks and plant stems.
Northern Water Snakes are
extremely helpful to people. They control populations of smaller
animals, such as mice. Unfortunately, they are often mistaken for
Copperheads and Cottonmouths (also called Water Moccasins, which
don't even live in our area), and killed. If you see a snake, it is
best to leave it alone. The color patter of a Northern Water Snake
can be similar to a Copperhead, even though water snakes are much
more common. Never kill a snake without good reason, since they are
so important to our environment.
