snake ID

[Pat B]

I killed this snake on my front lawn this morning. I didn't think it was a copperhead because it was so dark but it had an arrowhead shaped head and struck(with a white mouth) at my walking stick so I whacked him with my stick. I always cut a snakes head off and bury it and I checked ant this one had teeth but no fangs. I'm thinking a water snake but this guy(gal) was well above our creek near out rock garden. When I was skinning her I found she had eggs inside.
  I normally would not kill a non poisonous snake. If I knew for sure she was not poisonous I would have let her be.

[osage outlaw]

Pat, I killed a snake exactly like that this summer at the inlaws lake property.  It had eggs in it also.  I think it is some kind of water snake.  It was very thick and powerful for its length.  It had a partially digested 6" fish in its stomach.


Let me get a picture of the skin from mine and compare it to yours.  Maybe we can work out a trade one way or the other.

[gstoneberg]

Looks like a water snake to me too.  I've seen moccasins colored not much different than that...I probably would have killed it too and I don't kill many snakes...unless I'm working on a bow.

George

[osage outlaw]

Here is the picture of the watersnake.  It has 29" of usable skin with a slight tear on the head end.  The pattern was a  little brighter before I dried it.

[madcrow]

Pat, looks like a watersnake.  I catch them in the minnow trap.  If you kept the skin, I may have a match for it if you want It.

[bowtarist]

Norther Water Snake is what we call em.  They are killed all the time because people think they are copper heads.  They have a similar color, but it's reversed...I think on the copper head the hour glass is the dark ring.  And yes, they are aggresive and will bite if messed with very much.  I'm no snake pro, but I live on a creek and that is one of the snakes we see regularly.  dp

[Hillbilly]

Yep, that's a Northern water snake. I've seen them a long ways from water a few times over the years. And they're not friendly at all.

[Pat B]

Steve, I killed a small copperhead down near the barn the other day. It was in the weeds and my stick had no mercy so not much left of it.
  This snake was up by the house. Probably 50'(vertically) above the creek. As much rain as we have had lately maybe she thought she was in the creek! 

[criveraville]

Pat, it's a "Red Belly Water snake." That's what they are officially called. Pretty pattern. Aggressive snakes.

Cipriano

[TRACY]

I won't be giving you a hard time at the classic if you have a stick handy Pat, do you mind if I use the dissection pic with eggs in the classroom?

Tracy

[FlintWalker]

It is 100% a Northern Water snake.  The big females like that seem to travel a lot about this time of year. Check out the last bow Will H. posted if ya want to see what they look like on a bow.

[Will H]

Well like Shannon said that's a northern watersnake. I haven't posted the bow yet though...my computer has been giving me serious fits. Should post it up in a week or so. It's SUPER snakey and those northern watersnakes rival copperheads in my opinion 

[osage outlaw]

I saved the belly skin from mine.  It is sweet looking.

[beetlebailey1977]

Here are some pics of a red belly water snake eating a frog.