REPTILES: SNAKES

Northern Water Snake, Nerodia sipedon

Family Colubridae (Colubrid Snakes)

Size: Up to 50"

Range: Eastern Colorado

Habitat: Most freshwater habitats including streams, lakes, swamps

The northern water snake is aquatic, thick-bodied, and quite common in its range. Its color is highly variable, but is usually light to dark brown or gray, with broad, darker, brown, black or reddish bands behind its neck, and broken bands or mottling along the rest of its body. Its underside is paler, often with crescent-shaped markings. Older snakes become nearly black overall. Active at all times of the day or night, the snakes are seen basking on rocks and logs near water, or pursuing all manner of aquatic prey including frogs, minnows, salamanders, and crayfish. Although not poisonous, bites can be painful and, because of an anticoagulant released in the bite, wounds may bleed profusely.