Common Watersnake
Nerodia sipedon • Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Colubridae, Subfamily: Natricinae, Genus: Nerodia, Species: Nerodia sipedon
Native to eastern and central North America, ranging from southern Canada down through the eastern and Midwestern United States, extending west to parts of the Great Plains.
Look up Common Watersnake in the Snake Encyclopedia →Family
Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Colubridae, Subfamily: Natricinae, Genus: Nerodia, Species: Nerodia sipedon
Conservation
IUCN Red List status is Least Concern, due to its widespread distribution, large population size, and high adaptability to various wetland habitats.
Physical Description
Slender to moderately stout body with dark coloration, often appearing nearly black when wet, though faint darker crossbands or blotches may be visible on the anterior portion of the body. The head is distinct from the neck, and the scales are heavily keeled, giving a matte texture.
Size & Dimensions
Estimated specimen length is approximately 75 to 100 cm. Typical adult size ranges from 61 to 135 cm in total length, with females generally growing larger than males.
Habitat
Found primarily in or near permanent freshwater habitats such as streams, rivers, lakes, ponds, swamps, marshes, and man-made water bodies like swimming pools or reservoirs. Often basks on rocks, logs, or branches overhanging water.
Diet & Feeding
Preys primarily on fish, amphibians, crayfish, and occasionally small mammals or birds. It is an active forager that hunts both in water and along the shoreline, often cornering or trapping prey in shallow aquatic environments.
Reproduction
Ovoviviparous (gives live birth). Mating occurs in spring (April to June), and females typically give birth to a litter of 8 to 50+ live young in late summer or early autumn (August to October).
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List status is Least Concern, due to its widespread distribution, large population size, and high adaptability to various wetland habitats.
Cultural Significance
Plays an important ecological role in aquatic and riparian food webs as both a predator of fish and amphibians and as prey for larger birds, mammals, and other snakes. They frequently encounter humans near water bodies, often leading to unwarranted fear.
Notable Features
Exhibits exceptional swimming ability and can often be found near residential pools or human-altered aquatic habitats when foraging or seeking warmth. When threatened, they flatten their bodies, strike readily, and can emit a foul-smelling musk from cloacal glands.