Snakes

This You Just HAVE TO SEE…Snake vs Catfish

Published on April 13, 2018

Looking at the head of this blotched water snake, I’m wondering just how this snake thinks he’s going to get a fish this size down it’s gullet.

Water snakes are very common in the Dallas Fort Worth area. They are non-venomous, pose no threat to humans, and should not be killed. These snakes commonly occur in rivers, creeks, lakes, marshes, swamps, and manufactured bodies of water including ponds and stock tanks.

Water snakes lack venom, but they can defend themselves by delivering a series of rapid bites while smearing feces and musk onto anyone attempting to capture them. Water snakes only bite whenever captured or handled and pose no threat to humans. Unfortunately, water snakes are often confused with the venomous cottonmouth.

Blotched Water snake (Nerodia erythrogaster transversa)

The dorsal coloration of this species is olive green to brown coloration with a series of dark grayish-brown blotches across the back. A narrow creamy yellow to beige cross band is present in the center each blotch. The ventral surface is yellow with a suffusion of light brown along the edges. Juveniles are boldly patterned with a series of dark gray-brown blotches on the dorsum. A pinkish hue is present between the dark blotches. The overall coloration darkens as the snake matures.

Size: The blotched water snake is a medium sized snake with adults reaching an average length of 2-3 feet (0.61-0.91 m).

Reproduction: Females give birth to live young. Mating occurs in the late spring and females give birth during the late summer. Depending upon the size of the female, litter size may vary and consist of 8 to 30 young. Newborn blotched water snakes are typically between 8 to 10 inches in length.

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Snakes

This You Just HAVE TO SEE…Snake vs Catfish

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