The Northern Water Snake is a type of non-venomous snake that can grow at around 2-5ft. They are solitary creatures, but they can be very social after the winter season. You may find them lying on the sites while coiled with one another. It will be quite common to find them basking in the sun during the warm period of the day. They can be very aggressive, and you should treat them with respect and care if you want to avoid being accidentally bitten by this snake.
What is the Appearance of the Northern Water Snake?
The body of this reptile can have varying colors of brown, buff, tan, and gray. The juvenile snakes will have a brighter color compared to the adult snake. Once they become adults, they will have a darker band that is a feature often found among cottonmouths and copperheads. Due to their uncanny similarity, they are often mistaken for these venomous snakes. When they are threatened, they will keep their body flat and will bite.
Where is the Habitat of Northern Water Snake?
Northern Water Snakes thrive in the eastern part of the US, especially in Midwest and Northeast. You will find them in the northeastern US from Kansas and Nebraska and into North Carolina. It is a common snake in New Jersey and southern Ontario. You will find them swimming across the lake or pond and along the stream or river. When they are out of the water, you can find them enjoying a healthy dose of sunshine while lying at the edge of the water. You can also discover them inhabiting swamps, bogs, and marshes.
What is the Common Diet of Northern Water Snake?
The northern water snake is often found close to a water source since they will mostly feed on amphibians and fish. They will not constrict their prey; they will swallow them whole. They enjoy the taste of hogsuckers, catfish, bullhead, minnows, bass, smallmouth, sunfish, and brook trout. They can also eat spring peepers, bullfrog tadpoles, southern leopard frogs, toads, and northern cricket frogs. When hunting their prey, they will mostly rely on their sight and ability to detect the vibration on the ground. When food is scarce, they can also scavenge dead animals.
What is the Behavior of the Northern Water Snake?
When they are not hunting food, they will spend most of their time bathing in the sun. They are usually solitary, but after hibernating throughout the winter season, they can be found with other of the same species. If you disturb them, they will act very aggressive and not think twice to bite their attacker. It would be best to give them enough space to retreat since this animal will quickly flee rather than confront the danger.
Northern Water Snakes are a non-venomous snake that bears a striking resemblance with copperhead and cottonmouth. If you don’t know how to differentiate these creatures, allow the snake removal expert to handle this job for you.
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