A heavy-bodied non-venomous water snake often killed by people who mistake it for a cottonmouth (which doesn't occur in most of its range). Bites readily but harmlessly when grabbed.
§ Quick facts
§ Encyclopedia
The common watersnake is a species of large, nonvenomous, common snake in the family Colubridae. The species is native to North America. It is frequently mistaken for the venomous cottonmouth.
Source: Wikipedia — Common watersnake Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
§ Identification
Field marks. Stocky brown-gray snake with dark crossbands across neck and alternating blotches mid-body.
Similar species. Cottonmouth (venomous; only southern range; cotton-white mouth lining).
Voice. Hisses; vibrates tail.
§ Diet & behavior
Diet. Fish, frogs, salamanders, crayfish.
Behavior. Often misidentified as Cottonmouth and killed. Non-venomous; aggressive when handled; bites cause significant bleeding from anticoagulant in saliva.
§ Range
Northeastern and central US
§ Habitat
Streams, lakes, ponds, swamps
§ Threats
Persecution from misidentification, water pollution, habitat loss.
§ Conservation status
According to the IUCN Red List, the northern watersnake is currently classified as Least Concern.
§ What helps
Learn snake ID. Don't kill non-venomous snakes. Maintain riparian buffers.
§ Further reading
- Wikipedia — Common watersnake
- www.nwf.org — authoritative profile of Nerodia sipedon
- IUCN Red List · taxon 63861
- iNaturalist · taxon 29377
- GBIF occurrence records
- Encyclopedia of Life — Nerodia sipedon
§ Sources cited
- Davidson College Department of Biology
- Virginia Herpetological Society
- IUCN Red List 2007
