Species guide
Northern water snake
HarmlessNerodia sipedon
How to recognise it
A heavy-bodied snake, brown to grey with dark crossbands that break into blotches toward the tail, usually found in or near water. Non-venomous.
Is it dangerous?
Non-venomous, though it will bite hard if cornered and flatten its head defensively. It's often killed by mistake for a cottonmouth.
Commonly confused with
- Cottonmouth — venomous, found further south; gapes a white mouth in warning
What to do
Give it space and leave it alone; it poses no real threat.
Recorded 78,798 times in the wild worldwide.
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