Last week I spotted this Northern Water Snake (Nerodia sipedon) alongside a creek during a hike in Prince William Forest Park in Triangle, Virginia. Water Snakes are not venomous, but I remember reading that their saliva contains an anti-coagulant, so I am reluctant to get so close to one that I risk getting bitten.
Most of the Northern Water Snakes that I have previously seen have been a uniform dark color, but this snake has a beautiful striped pattern on its underside that is visible in this photo. This snake seemed to be simply sunning itself, absorbing the warmth of the spring sunshine.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 