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Northern Watersnake
A non-venomous, but aggressive, species of snake found in eastern Colorado.
About This Species
Front portion of body crossbanded, rear portion crossbanded or blotched; pattern sometimes obscure, especially in large individuals; belly often with red or orange blotches; upper scales keeled, with a pair of tiny pits near the tip of each scale; anal scale divided; more than two scales between eye and nostril.
More Information:
Physical Characteristics
Maximum total length about 150 cm (59 inches), but very few in Colorado exceed 100 cm (39 inches); males usually less than 62 cm (24 inches) snout-vent length, females usually less than 82 cm (32 inches) snout-vent length; end of tail often missing.
Range
Along streams in the plains region of eastern Colorado at elevations below about 5,500 feet. Fairly common.
Habitat
Creeks, rivers, reservoirs, ponds, marshes, flooded meadows, and canals along major drainage systems; rarely found away from the immediate vicinity of water. Usually seen swimming along marsh edges or basking in semi-secluded onshore sites, on log jams in streams, on mats of algae, on clumps of dead cattails, or up to several feet high in woody streamside vegetation; sometimes under rocks or wood at the water’s edge.
Diet
The Northern watersnake forages in shallow water for fishes, adult and larval amphibians, and sometimes crayfish or other small animals.
Reproduction
Females give birth to their young usually between mid-August and mid-September. Litters can range from four to 100, but are usually 20-40.