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Project Noah Nature School
Nerodia fasciata confluens
Broad-banded Water Snake is often incorrectly referred to as a "water moccasin." This is because of its generally dark coloration and its irritable disposition. When threatened, Broad-banded Water Snakes will behave like all other local harmless water snakes of the genus Nerodia. They will usually coil up and flatten out their head, making it look arrowhead shaped. However, head shape cannot be used to tell venomous snakes from harmless ones. They will also vibrate their tail, let out large amounts of foul smelling musk which smells like a skunk, and strike out repeatedly at whatever is threatening them. This defensive behavior often causes them to be mistaken for the venomous Western Cottonmouth. Since they are not venomous, though, treatment for the bite of a water snake usually involves no more than soap and water and a Band-Aid.
Reelfoot Lake, Tennessee
Our guide plunked this little guy from the water during our pontoon tour of the lake. He stoically hung on to while being repeatedly bitten so that we could get some great pics! We all got the dubious benefit of being musked!
Spotted on May 9, 2012
Submitted on May 11, 2012
14 Comments
Thanks Jacob! I didn't smell very cute after meeting this guy!
Ouch! Very cute, though!
Candice, he was being very macho about it & insisted it wasn't painful but he was bleeding from several bites on his hand so I suspect it must have been a bit sore!
Omg! Did that hurt? Good shots though
I bet it wasn't the snake that got the blame! :)
I was actually pretty impressed with the size of the maw this one had - obvious I guess as they swallow their prey whole!
My wife always wanted to know what a small, non-venomous snakebite would feel like, just so she would be prepared in case it ever happened with the one she kept in her classroom. We were in Arizona and the spotting below nipped her... after I told her it wouldn't! Ha! (she didn't laugh, however) I had handled it for a minute and asked her to hold it so I could get my camera out of the car.
http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/896...
Yes, we all got a good whiff of the musk Aaron!
I was actually a little tempted to ask to handle this guy so I could experience the bite for myself - now that I'm starting to handle snakes I figure it's only a matter of time before I get nipped & I would like to know what to expect. I decided against it as I had a 4 hour drive home ahead of me & I was worried I just might get some kind of reaction.
Watersnake bites are no big deal. It's the musk that I despise! ;-)
Great spotting, Karen! This snake barely occurs in the southeastern portion of my state and I'm still searching for one.
I agree Adam though my herp friends, say the bite is no worse than getting scratched by brambles. The guide is a trainee herpetologist himself & told us he has been bitten handling several of the captive snakes at the visitors center including the rattlesnakes & copperhead - luckily they have all been dry bites (no venom). I guess it's something that comes with the territory in his job!
wow...brave guide...even knowing it's not harmful, it still takes a bit of craziness to just let the snake bite you for the enjoyment of otherss
Thanks Atul! I hadn't realized you have a problem with snakes - have you ever been bitten?
super series , i hope i get over the phobia of snakes .
Thanks Gerardo!
Very cool :)