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Nerodia sipedon
Northern Water Snakes grow over four feet long. They can be brown, gray, reddish, or brownish-black. They have dark crossbands on their necks and dark blotches on the rest of their bodies. Also, the older the snake gets, the darker it gets. An older snake will become black. The belly of this snake also varies in color. It can be white, yellow, or gray. Usually it also has reddish or black crescents (moon shapes). During the day, water snakes hunt among plants at the water's edge, looking for small fish, frogs, worms, leeches, crayfish, salamanders, young turtles, and small birds and mammals. At night, they concentrate on minnows and other small fish sleeping in shallow water. Northern Water Snakes mate in April and June. They are live-bearers, which means they do not lay eggs like most snakes. Instead, they carry them inside their bodies and give birth to baby snakes, each one six to twelve inches long. A female may have as many as 30 young at a time. Babies are born between August and October. Mothers do not care for their young; as soon as they are born, they are on their own. These snakes defend themselves viciously when they are threatened. If they are picked up by an animal, or person, they will bite, as well as release poop and musk (bad smelling liquid).
Northern Water Snakes live near lakes, ponds, marshes, streams, rivers, and canals; just about anywhere there is water. They are active during the day and at night. They are most often seen basking on rocks, stumps, or brush.
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