Northern Water Snake (Nerodia sipedon)

Found throughout NC except for the southeastern coastal plain, these snakes eat mostly fish and amphibians. Despite the fact that many locals think they're venomous, they are not. They will bite, however, when cornered or grabbed.

	This adult was about 3 feet long or so. Eno River, Durham Co., NC 2 July 2005
	Note the round pupils on this non-venomous snake. (Cottonmouths have vertical pupils.)

Tony Jackson spotted this little snake (ca. 12-16 inches) the evening of 7 May 2004 at our group camping trip at Jordan Lake, Chatham Co., NC.

When cornered, it climbed a foot up the trunk of a large Loblolly Pine, where these photos were taken with a flash in the dark. (The top picture has been rotated 90 degrees for better web-viewing.)

Duke Forest, Durham Co., NC
2 Apr 2006

Watauga Co., NC
21 July 2006

Durham Co., NC
29 June 2007

Northern Watersnakes are frequently seen sunning on rocks or piles of branches along the waterways.

Northern Water Snake (Nerodia sipedon)
Catawba Co., NC
Aug 2012

	Northern Water Snake (Nerodia sipedon) Washington Co., ME 7 July 2011
	Northern Water Snake (Nerodia sipedon) Washington Co., ME 7 July 2011

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Created on ... May 13, 2004 | Updated on ... Jan 19, 2008 | jeffpippen9@gmail.com