Wednesday June 4, 2008

Update on the Snake in My Earlier Post

  Jack Hubley (our local expert on wildlife) says it is a Northern Water Snake.

This was his second response, which I thought may be helpful to others reading this:

Countless northern water snakes are beheaded every year because they were incorrectly identified as copperheads. On the picture that you sent you can see the most obvious difference. The bands on a water snake are shaped exactly the opposite as the bands on a copperhead.

The copperhead’s bands (aside from normally being more distinct than those on an adult water snake) pinch tight at the top and get wider as they go down toward the belly.

The water snake’s bands are widest where they cross over the back.

My favorite saying: stay away from the snake that wears bow ties! (Or, if you prefer, hourglasses.)

Jack

Jack

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Thanks raycindy93 for suggesting that I ask him.

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