- 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.