Common Watersnake
Nerodia sipedon • Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Colubridae, Subfamily: Natricinae, Genus: Nerodia, Species: Nerodia sipedon
Common across North America, ranging from southern Ontario and Quebec in Canada throughout the eastern and central United States, as far south as North Carolina and as far west as Colorado and Oklahoma.
Look up Common Watersnake in the Snake Encyclopedia →Venomous Status
Non-venomous
Danger Level
Low Risk; while non-venomous, they are famously defensive and will bite repeatedly if handled, often accompanied by the release of a foul-smelling musk. Bites may bleed profusely due to anticoagulant properties in their saliva.
Family
Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Colubridae, Subfamily: Natricinae, Genus: Nerodia, Species: Nerodia sipedon
Conservation
IUCN Red List: Least Concern. They are widespread and adaptable, though they face threats from habitat destruction and persecution by humans who mistake them for venomous species.
Physical Description
A heavy-bodied snake with highly keeled scales. Coloration is typically brown, gray, or tan with dark crossbands near the head that break into alternating dorsal and lateral blotches further down the body. The head is distinct from the neck with large eyes and round pupils.
Size & Dimensions
The specimen in the image appears to be a juvenile or young adult, approximately 18-24 inches. Adults typically range from 24 to 42 inches (61-107 cm), with females being significantly larger than males.
Habitat
Primarily found in freshwater ecosystems such as lakes, ponds, marshes, rivers, and streams. They are commonly seen basking on rocks or logs near water and are proficient swimmers.
Behavior & Temperament
Active during both day and night (diurnal and nocturnal), though more nocturnal in hot weather. They are highly defensive when cornered, flattening their heads and striking vigorously. They usually flee into water at the first sign of a threat.
Diet & Feeding
Generalist carnivores specializing in aquatic prey. They feed heavily on fish, frogs, salamanders, and occasionally small mammals or birds. They use an active foraging strategy and swallow prey alive without constriction.
Reproduction
Viviparous (gives birth to live young). Mating occurs in spring, and the female gives birth to 15-30 young (sometimes more) in late summer or early autumn.
Venom Profile
Non-venomous - no medically significant venom.
Look-alikes
Often confused with the venomous Northern Cottonmouth (Agkistrodon piscivorus). Distinct from Cottonmouths by their round pupils (vs. vertical), lack of heat-sensing pits, and double row of subcaudal scales. Also confused with Copperheads due to banding patterns.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern. They are widespread and adaptable, though they face threats from habitat destruction and persecution by humans who mistake them for venomous species.
Cultural Significance
Commonly misunderstood and often killed due to their resemblance to venomous snakes. Ecologically, they are vital for controlling fish and amphibian populations and serve as a food source for larger predators like herons and hawks.
Notable Features
Possess an anticoagulant in their saliva that causes bite wounds to bleed more than typical small scratches. They have a unique 'anti-predator' strategy of diving underwater and remaining submerged for extended periods to avoid capture.