Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello, I found lots of snakes this year around the house but the rat snakes I saw earlier this year was more grey then brown. This one is pretty brown. Found in my pool filter. I live in maryland. Was wondering if anyone could verify it was a rat snake or something else.

Snake

That's a baby Northern Water Snake (Nerodia sipedon)

Glad it is doing okay after being in the pool skimmer/filter. It usually doesn't take long at all for them to drown there..

~Doug
-----
"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

serpentinespecialties.webs.com

Thanks for the reply, that makes the 4th species of snake I found in the yard this year. Most snakes I ever seen in a given year. A lot of young ones too.

Yes, it's always fun to find different types of snakes on the property..

~Doug
-----
"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

serpentinespecialties.webs.com

I agree with Doug - Northern Water Snake.
About a week ago a friend/neighbor called and asked me to come remove a snake from their pool here in southwestern NC. I've never seen baby water snakes before & it's been many moons since I've seen baby rat snakes. Due to it's small size and vertical banding on its side I was pretty sure it was a Northern Water Snake.

I took some pics tonight to identify it & post in this forum if I wasn't able to ID it, or needed confirmation. I figured my buddy Doug would know what it was.

Here are a few pics:

Since these snakes are often mistaken for Copperheads in this area I'm going to try to raise it up on rodents so I can use it in educational shows. One thing for sure, this lil' booger definitely has a water snake attitude, which is different than rat snakes.

Ya'll take care!
HH
(Mike)
-----
Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American

www.natures-signature.com

That appears to be a blotched water snake, N. erythrogaster transversa..to my mind, without a doubt. However, according to the range map I have, they occur in eastern NC, throughout most of SC, but supposedly not in sw NC. I'd still say that's what it is, though, 'cause they don't read range maps & follow them all that well. Good luck trying to raise it on rodents. Fish & amphibs will probably be all it will eat. During the Spring, you can gather up tadpoles..he'll go crazy thanking you.

If you can't find fish small enough, cut pieces of bigger fish. One rainbow trout ought to keep him going for a long time.

~~Greg~~

Greg, you might be right. I don't know about "transversa," but it does look like a Nerodia erythrogaster. And being out of its listed range is interesting because of the climate differences (mostly, cooler temperatures) here in the mountainous area. Wish I had scale-count information on the two species and a belly shot of a baby of either species.

Here's links to each species' info from Univ. of GA.

Red-bellied Watersnake

Northern Watersnake

"I'd still say that's what it is, though, 'cause they don't read range maps & follow them all that well."

Ha! Ha! Thanks for the grin! I might have to resort to fish 'cause the lil' stinker spit out the rat pinkie leg I force-fed it. I don't like force-feeding to begin with, unless necessary. It's especially bothersome when done for personal reasons. Yes, I've got a conscience.
-----
Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American

www.natures-signature.com

From Conant: "Dark lateral spots alternate with dorsal blotches throughout length of body. Belly: Yellow with faint traces of spots." All other Nerodia in or near your area have well marked bellies. As far as mountain habitat, it is amazing to me how cool a clime, especially cool water, these critters can tolerate. I have found snakes in water I would not enter without waders. I hope you are successful raising it. Nice looking snake.

~~Greg~~

Hi Mike!,..long time, no see bud!

Well, yes, from the looks of it, I have to agree with Greg on it being a Blotched Water Snake as well. They are said to range more within the lower plain area elevations from what I gather as he also stated, but I have found that there are many exceptions to range maps with many different types of snakes anyway. The plain, muted belly, and blotched dorsal pattern all are indicative of Nerodia erythrogaster transversa.

Hope you are succesful with feeding the little captive buddy, and hope you and the female leucistic T-Rat are still getting along well..LOL!

best regards, ~Doug
-----
"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

serpentinespecialties.webs.com

Thanks Greg & Doug! In the photo of its belly you can see the yellowing beginning to take place and I took another look at the snake and it definitely has black spotting on the latter part of the belly, especially post-ventral.

Doug - Lucy's doing great. I purposely don't handle her a whole lot 'cause I love her bit of an attitude. I handle her just enough to keep her from going wild. It's great to be able to show people their natural defense without havin' to worry about an all-out attack. I love animals with spirit, and she's got it.

Ya'll take care & I'll keep ya posted on the lil' water snake.

HH
-----
Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American

www.natures-signature.com

That's great Mike!. Yes, keep us updated on how it goes with the water snake there.

~Doug
-----
"a snake in the grass is a GOOD thing"

serpentinespecialties.webs.com

Just wanted to update ya'll on the baby Blotched Water Snake. The lil' sprite ate a heap of fish a few days ago and appears to be fat & content at the moment. I was amazed ate how many he ate.

Thanks & take care!
Mike
(HH)
-----
Due to political correctness run amuck,
this ol' hillbilly is now referred to as an:
Appalachian American

www.natures-signature.com