Banded Watersnake
Nerodia fasciata • Order: Squamata; Suborder: Serpentes; Family: Colubridae; Subfamily: Natricinae; Genus: Nerodia; Species: fasciata
Southeastern United States, ranging from North Carolina through Florida and west to eastern Texas and the Mississippi River Valley.
Look up Banded Watersnake in the Snake Encyclopedia →Venomous Status
Non-venomous; lacks fangs and produces no medically significant venom.
Danger Level
Harmless; though defensive and prone to biting if handled, their bite is not dangerous to humans beyond minor scratches.
Family
Order: Squamata; Suborder: Serpentes; Family: Colubridae; Subfamily: Natricinae; Genus: Nerodia; Species: fasciata
Conservation
Least Concern (IUCN); however, they are often killed by humans who mistake them for venomous Cottonmouths.
Physical Description
Heavy-bodied snake with strongly keeled scales. Features dark crossbands (brown, reddish, or black) on a lighter ground color. The head is wider than the neck with large eyes and round pupils. A dark stripe usually runs from the eye to the corner of the mouth.
Size & Dimensions
Small to medium; this specimen appears to be a juvenile. Adults typically range from 24 to 42 inches (61-106 cm), with a maximum record of about 60 inches (152 cm).
Habitat
Semiaquatic; found in freshwater environments including lakes, ponds, marshes, cypress swamps, and slow-moving rivers. Often seen basking on logs or vegetation overhanging water.
Behavior & Temperament
Highly defensive. When threatened, they often flatten their bodies and heads to appear larger, release a foul-smelling musk, and strike repeatedly. Often misidentified as 'aggressive' when they are actually just displaying strong defensive behaviors.
Diet & Feeding
Generalist carnivore focusing on aquatic prey; primarily eats fish, frogs, tadpoles, and occasionally salamanders or crayfish. They use active foraging and strike-and-swallow tactics.
Reproduction
Viviparous (gives birth to live young). Breeding occurs in spring, and females give birth to 15 to 60 neonates usually between July and October.
Venom Profile
Non-venomous - no medically significant venom.
Look-alikes
Commonly confused with the venomous Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus). Distinguishable by round pupils (Cottonmouths have vertical slits), lacking a heat-sensing pit, and possessing labial scales with dark vertical lines.
Conservation Status
Least Concern (IUCN); however, they are often killed by humans who mistake them for venomous Cottonmouths.
Cultural Significance
Ecologically vital as both a predator of aquatic pests and as prey for larger wading birds and alligators. In Florida, they are a staple of the wetland ecosystem.
Notable Features
Features extremely keeled scales that give the snake a rough texture. Unlike most other snakes, they can be found in brackish water occasionally, though they prefer freshwater.
Notes
Florida. Aggressive