A local that easily gets confused with the toxic viper Cottonmouth. However these snakes are not poisonous. Might hurt if they bite, but that’s it.
I always look at the head first to check if it has a clear triangle shape. No triangle, you’re good.
An adult will grow to around 48+ inches (1.5 meters), big enough for me. There are several types of water snakes, this species is a coastal inhabitant.
It’s pretty hard to go into a swamp and not see one of these, if you’re looking.
Four Hole Swamp, South Carolina.
Please read the comments below for new… and better, I on these snakes. 😁
I find 5- and 6-foot great northern water snakes in my yard and dirt basement (stone foundation) I am not a fan of their aggressiveness.
I have not seen them being aggressive here, but this is different subspecies might make a difference. In general snakes here are calm. I’ve thought it might be the big food sources here. None are every hungry 😂.
The one exception is the Pigmy Rattlesnake. Like a small Garter snake with the bad attitude of an Eagle. Bad manners and toxic. 🤣.
yikes yes mine rattle their tails as do the Milk snake I am remembering them you sound like a rattler you will die like one. I just tested positive to Lyme 🙁
I have never seen a snake that big, we only have little gardener snakes here 🙂
None of these are super large for the species, about average. Still not small for sure.
Bitter sweet on the snakes (we have the cottons along with the large rat and corn variety in our neck of the woods). I enjoy them and like taking shots of them. On the other hand, if wife sees them, holy hell.
I hate to be that know-it-all blog commentator, but the 1st, 2nd and 4th photos are of a Brown Watersnake, Nerodia taxispilota, and not a Banded Watersnake (but both quite similar and in the same genus). The third photo is one of the “bad guys”, a Northern Cottonmouth.
Ahh, thanks. I don’t think I knew they were that close, thanks. I am probably using the name interchangeable. Since this was published I have had a conversation with a friend on number three… the Cottonmouth. I never noticed the yellow line along the head, by the eyes. 😁.
Thanks for calling it. For me one of the most important things here is to share information with people who will never see the things we both do. Around 2,000 people get these pages in their email, and read it. We lose a little more wildlife every day. I want to share that, and what is still there, without preaching.
😄😄