Reptile

Active day and night. Frequently encountered basking on rocks or stumps, hunting frogs in shoreline vegetation during the day, or gorging itself on minnows and small fishes caught sleeping in the shallows at night. Also eats salamanders, juvenile turtles, crustaceans, even small mammals. Will flee if given the chance, but flattens body and strikes repeatedly if cornered. Wounds caused by the bite bleed profusely because of the anticoagulant quality of the snake's saliva, but there is no poison. Northern Water Snakes are often mistaken for venomous "water moccasins" and killed on sights.

Northern Water Snake

Description	22-53". Reddish, brown, or gray to brownish-black, with dark cross bands on neck region, and alternating dark blotches on back and sides at mid body. Pattern darkens with age, becoming black. Belly white, yellow, or gray, with reddish-brown or black crescent-shaped spots. No dark line from eye to corner of mouth. Juveniles more vivid. Scales keeled, in 21-25 rows. Anal plate divided.

Breading	Mates April to June; 8-99 (typically 15-30) young are born August to October. Newborn are 6 1/2-12" long.
Habitat	Found in most aquatic situations from sea level to about 4,800'; lakes, ponds, swamps, marshes, canals, ditches, bogs, streams, rivers, even salt marshes of Carolina Outer Banks.
Subspecies	Northern, Lake Erie, Midland, Carolina Salt Marsh.
Other	Active day and night. Frequently encountered basking on rocks or stumps, hunting frogs in shoreline vegetation during the day, or gorging itself on minnows and small fishes caught sleeping in the shallows at night. Also eats salamanders, juvenile turtles, crustaceans, even small mammals. Will flee if given the chance, but flattens body and strikes repeatedly if cornered. Wounds caused by the bite bleed profusely because of the anticoagulant quality of the snake's saliva, but there is no poison. Northern Water Snakes are often mistaken for venomous "water moccasins" and killed on sights.
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