Northern water snake - Nerodia sipedon
Description:
- 22-42 inches total length
- Found in streams, rivers, swamps, lakes and marshes
- Active during day when cool, at night when hot
- Feed on fish, frogs, and toads
Interesting fact:
- Water snakes will behave defensively and will bite when they feel threatened, so they are often mistaken for copperheads or cottonmouths. Water snakes are not venomous. They do, however, have a number of bacterial species inhabiting their mouths. Any bite wounds should be thoroughly cleaned and monitored for infection. Of course, this is true for any kind of bite wounds and it's best to leave wild animals alone so as not to be bitten in the first place!
Range map in Kansas:
More images:
