Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Pretty sure picture #1 is a copperhead, was seen swimming across river. Has very obvious hourglass type markings

Picture #2 a little less sure of, stripes more so than hourglass markings. This one was on our lawn at the beginning of our dock. Many have said they believe it to be a water snake, I'm hoping this is the case, venomous worries me in my back yard, I have a bulldog without much brains and wouldn't want her to come across this guy if posionous

look like northern water snakes to me. harmless

These guys are of the family Nerodia. There are numerous members of this Water Snake family that are called anything from Copperheads to Cotton Mouths,(improper identification) but they are harmless. They do have an enzyme in thier bite that contains a type of anti- coagulant that promotes bleeding. But these guys are harmless to humans.

So is it a copperhead? They are poisonous to humans if it is. I've never heard of them not being poisonous. Same with cotton mouths.

no not copperheads. they are water snakes. not venomous. harmless to humans

The pics you posted ARE NOT Copperheads or Cotton Mouths!!!!!!!
They are Nerodia ssp wich is a family of HARMLESS water snakes VERY OFTEN called Copperheads or Cotton Mouths by people who don't KNOW any better!!!!

Copperheads belong to the family Agkistrodon which is the same family that which you will also find Cotton Mouths!
There are around five subspecies of Copperheads and two of Cotton Mouths.
These two types of snakes ARE venomous!!! Leave them alone!!
Nerodia on the other hand are HARMLESS!!! They do have a foul temper and will readily bite when handled.

I recommend you get a good field guide so you can identify correctly the animals that live in your area. I recommend Peterson's. They've been around a long time.

And please remember, weoved into the animals backyard, it didn't move into ours! It's ancestors where here millions of years before urs, so live and let live!!!

Absolutely agree with live and let live. We are just trying to figure out what's what, new to the southern states. We don't kill anything we come across.

Here's a pic of a Southern Copperhead.
Hope it helps!!
Andy

I'll also post a Nerodia (water snake)!!

Nerodia...i believe this is the Northern. There are a bunch of members to this family. There is even one called a Diamondback! LOL
Also you will hear folks talk about Salt Marsh snakes. Same family.
Hope this helps!
A