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Information on Snakes | Information and Illustrations of Specific Snakes
Snakes of Massachusetts
Northern Water Snake
Nerodia sipedon (24-42", up to 55")
Adult Northern Water Snake
This thick-bodied snake is quite variable in color and pattern. Background
color ranges from light gray to dark brown. It is almost always patterned
with reddish-brown, brown or black crossbands near the head and alternating
back and side blotches farther down the body. The pattern generally
becomes less noticeable as the water snake grows larger, and often results
in a uniformly dark snake. Body scales are strongly keeled and the belly is patterned with black or
orange crescents.
Courtship and mating typically occur in May and June, and females give birth to
20-40 young in August and September.
True to their name, water snakes are found in a variety of wet habitats including
lakes, ponds, rivers, streams and wetlands. They are excellent swimmers,
both on the surface or submerged, and commonly forage along the water's
edge for prey. Fish, frogs, tadpoles and salamanders make up the bulk
of their diet, though they will also take small mammals, birds, insects,
crayfish and other invertebrates. Water snakes are very common and can
often be found basking on beaver dams and lodges, bridge abutments,
banks and shrubs. In the spring, water snakes are commonly reported
by homeowners who find them in their backyards. When threatened, they
rapidly retreat to water. If cornered, they do not hesitate to strike.
Water snakes can almost always be counted on to bite, defecate and spray
a particularly foul-smelling musk when handled.
More Information on Water Snake
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