Northern
Water Snakes
Description
Northern
water snakes are one of the larger medium-sized snakes. They range
in length from 24 to 55 inches and may be quite heavy bodied as
adults. There are so many pattern and color variations in certain
populations, and in individual northern water snakes, that to list
them all is not feasible for the length of this account.
Generally, they have light brown or reddish markings on a brown or
grayish ground color. The markings are bands on the neck and
become blotches on the back. There are smaller alternating spots
on the sides and the ones closest to the ventral scales have a
tendency to be red. The tail is ringed in the same color as the
dorsal markings. The belly is white with brown or red half-moon
shaped markings. These markings are sparse or absent anteriorly
and become much more numerous posteriorly. Sometimes there is a
yellow, orange, or pink stripe running longitudinally down the
center of the vent. The crescent shaped markings may still be
present with this stripe, but if they are not, there may be very
small gray or brown dots scattered randomly about the belly.
Larger adults may be a solid brown or black when they are dry.
Newborn northern water snakes have a gray or very light brown
ground color with striking black or dark brown bands and blotches.
The crescents on the belly usually have no red but are solid black
or brown instead. Subadults are quite reddish in overall
appearance.
Habitat
The
northern water snake is, as its name implies, a snake of the
water. Ponds, marshes, streams, river backwaters, and lakes
provide the preferred habitat for this serpent. Thick vegetation
along the banks with small shrubs and trees afford basking
opportunities that are important for this species.
Habits
This
snake is diurnal, even during hot weather. It may be observed
basking upon branches, shrubs, tree roots, and along the banks of
waterways, often in large numbers on a favorite basking spot.
Young and newborn water snakes may be found hiding beneath logs or
flat rocks close to water. They are wary and will slip off their
basking perch at any sign of danger. Some may swim with their
heads above water to the other side of the bank or swim back to
the shore in a semi-circle. Others will dive to the bottom and
anchor themselves to logs, branches, rocks, or other debris. Most
will resurface within five minutes, but they are capable of
remaining submerged for an hour and a half (Ferguson and Thornton,
1984)! If cornered, they will flatten their jaws and bodies making
themselves look like ribbons. They will strike and bite viciously
and repeatedly. If picked up, they will release musk and fecal
matter, and in very nervous specimens, regurgitating any recently
eaten meal. Even after being held for some time, they will not
miss an opportunity to bite, and their saliva contains
anticoagulant properties that make the lacerations bleed
profusely. The treatment, however, is only soap and water. These
are nonvenomous snakes! The famous, and venomous cottonmouth (or
water moccasin), Agkistrodon piscivorus, is not found in
Minnesota
or
Iowa
. The farthest north cottonmouths have been recorded is central
Missouri
.
Northern
water snakes are active from April to October, spending their
winters in rock crevices they have migrated to. There are often
other species of snakes hibernating with them. Neonates of this
species will often hibernate communally and in relatively large
numbers when compared to the adults. Some may hibernate near their
summer sites if suitable dens such as burrows, large rocks,
bridges, or dams exist. They emerge in spring and migrate back to
their summer sites close to water. This is where copulation takes
place. Many males may court one female at the same time. The
females are usually quite a bit larger than the males. The pair
usually will select a basking perch such as a shrub or branch
overhanging water for copulation. Matings have been observed on
the banks or even in the water, however. During breeding, both
snakes may make undulating movements with their bodies and the
pair may remain "locked up" for an hour or more.
Young
are born alive in late June into August. They are roughly 6 - 10
inches at birth and are pugnacious like the adults. Five to sixty
young may be produced in a single litter or a couple litters a few
days apart and there is a fantastic account of 99 young born in a
litter to one female.
Food
Northern
water snakes are active hunters and may hunt both day and night.
They feed on a wide variety of animals associated with water.
Fish, amphibians, baby turtles, young snakes, worms, leeches,
insects, crayfish, and mammals are consumed. A wider variety of
prey is utilized at higher temperatures. They eat small meals
every day or every other day and hunt by patrolling the water next
to the shore for food. They sometimes swim through a school of
small fish with their mouths wide open and swallow anything they
can catch or herd fish into a shallow area of water and then
create a barrier with a loose coil of its body. These snakes are
not constrictors and simply swallow prey alive.
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