Northern Water Snake

Nerodia sipedon

Classification

Conservation Status

  • The Northern Water Snake is a nonvenomous snake that is commonly mistaken for a copperhead or cottonmouth. 
  • The head of a water snake is roughly the same width as its neck. Copperheads and cottonmouths have wedge or diamond-shaped heads that are wider than their neck. 
  • The Northern Water Snake avoids people but will become aggressive and strike if you attempt to capture or handle it. 
  • Unlike most snakes, female Northern Water Snakes give birth to live young and can birth as many as 30 snakelets in a single brood.