Northern Water Snake
Nerodia sipedon
Northern Watersnakes live around ponds, lakes, marshes, rivers, and rocky stream edges, where they bask near cover and dive quickly when disturbed. They are strong swimmers that hunt fish, frogs, salamanders, and other small aquatic animals, usually seizing prey with a quick bite rather than constriction. When cornered, they may flatten the body, strike repeatedly, and release a foul-smelling musk. A notable fact is that this harmless, nonvenomous snake is often mistaken for venomous water snakes such as cottonmouths in areas where ranges overlap.
- Type
- Water
- Conservation status
- LC
Growth chain
- ?
- Northern Water Snake