Redbelly Water Snake

Description:

Dark brown to gray or black back with a large triangular head and a plain orange/red underbelly from nose to tip of the tail. This is one of the most common snakes in our area (next to the swamp) but it is often confused with the venomous water moccasin. This snake is not venomous at all but is a more "aggressive" snake in that it will bite hard and repeatedly if you attempt to pick it up, and it has been known to leave long teeth embedded in its bite.

Habitat:

Near to fresh water swamps, wetlands, and lakes.

Notes:

This is the best looking representative I've ever seen of this species. It was completely clean. I've seen dozens of others and all of them were covered in battle scars or bad sheds. So, I considered this a beautiful spotting. Locals are constantly telling me about the "redbelly moccasins" that they kill on sight. I have yet to see a single moccasin in our area although they are native to this area. As I'm constantly telling everyone, moccasins don't have any color on their belly. If you see red it's not a moccasin. In our area, the only snakes with red on their belly are the Water Snakes, and Mud Snakes, neither of which will hurt you if you just leave them alone.