Ohio’s diverse landscape is home to many species of reptiles, and among them, Water Snakes hold a particularly important place. From the brilliant colors of the Plain-bellied Watersnake to the Elusive demeanor of the Lake Erie Watersnake, these snakes navigate the state’s waters with a unique blend of adaptability and survival instinct.
Join us to explore Water Snakes in Ohio and learn about their habitat, behavior, and important role in the biological ecosystem in Ohio.
Different Types of Water Snakes in Ohio
Rough Green Snake (Opheodrys aestivus)
The Rough Green Snake, scientifically known as Opheodrys aestivus, has recently attracted attention and is primarily reported in Ross County, Ohio. However, it’s possible that these elusive creatures may have gone unnoticed in other counties across the state. Known for their vibrant green color, these snakes are exceptionally difficult to spot in their natural habitat, posing a difficult challenge for those trying to catch or study them.
These snakes display intense activity in the vicinity of water bodies, strategically using these environments to their advantage. With their bright green color blending in with the surroundings, spotting them among the foliage becomes a difficult task. Their mostly green appearance acts as a natural camouflage, making them elusive and challenging to both catch and hunt.
Reaching up to 45 inches in length, the Rough Green Snake has a distinct appearance with a completely green body and a light-colored belly. Despite their striking appearance, these creatures are non-venomous and therefore pose no danger to humans. Their hobby is hunting insects, and they spend a significant part of their time searching for prey.
Although currently concentrated in Ross County, it is still possible for the Rough Green Snake to exist in other Ohio counties. They are reptiles in need of conservation.
Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix)
The Copperhead, scientifically identified as Agkistrodon contortrix, stands out as a highly adaptable snake capable of thriving in a variety of environments. Although it may seem unusual, sightings of these reptiles in the wetlands and flooded fields of southern Ohio are not uncommon. Considered the only venomous snake in the area (excluding the non-dangerous venom of the common snake), the Copperhead tends to stay away from urban environments.
Despite its venom, the Copperhead’s bite is rarely fatal to humans. Their venom paralyzes smaller animals rather than larger creatures such as humans, and their bites can cause severe pain and potentially cause allergic reactions. Even so, the copperhead remains a relatively secretive snake, making encounters with humans unlikely.
Reaching up to 3 feet in length, the Copperhead is distinctively colored with bands that span its entire body. These bands come in a color palette of pink, rust, brown, and taupe, which contributes to their effective camouflage in a variety of terrains. Their ability to blend in with their surroundings, coupled with their elusive nature, makes them difficult to detect in their natural habitat.
Primarily consuming small animals, although the Copperhead’s venom is not lethal, caution is paramount when traveling to areas where they may exist.
Plain-bellied Water Snake (Nerodia erythrogaster)
The Plain-bellied water snake, scientifically identified as Nerodia erythrogaster, is endangered in Ohio and found only in Williams County. They live in submerged environments and are marked by a distinctive appearance that makes them easily recognizable. Shrouded in darkness, their almost completely black bodies are decorated with a vivid red belly, often extending to a striking red head.
It belongs to the genus Nerodia, but contrary to the hydrophilic classification, this species surprises with its tendency to live on land. Unlike snakes that mainly live in the safety of lakes and swamps, Plain-bellied water snakes tend to wander, venturing away from their familiar, comfortable aquatic habitats.
With a maximum length of up to 40 inches, these elusive snakes display a predominantly dark color palette, highlighted by contrast with their red bellies. This special combination helps them camouflage with their surroundings.
It is worth noting that the Plain-bellied water snake is not dangerous to humans because it is not venomous. Instead, its diet focuses on frogs and salamanders. As this endangered species struggles to survive in Williams County, coordinated conservation efforts become paramount to ensuring its survival in Ohio’s biological ecosystems.
Copperbelly Water Snake
The Copperbelly water snake, scientifically classified as Nerodia erythrogaster neglecta, is sadly classified as a rare and threatened species, with its dwindling numbers limited to northwest Ohio. The main threat to these snakes is habitat loss, resulting from the depletion of fields and wetlands—environments that are critical to their survival.
Particularly notable in their behavior, the Copperbelly water snake water snake is the only snake known to engage in group hunting, a behavior that is becoming increasingly rare as the number of individuals decreases. Historically, they thrived in swampy areas, hunting together to protect their prey. Unfortunately, dwindling numbers have made this collective hunting behavior less common among the remaining Copperbelly water snakes.
Reaching up to 5 feet in length, these elusive snakes are distinctively colored, featuring dark gray or black bodies complemented by brightly contrasting bellies. This color scheme aids their camouflage in their natural habitat.
Unlike some venomous species, Copperbelly water snakes are non-venomous. Instead, they rely on swallowing their prey alive, which mainly includes frogs, salamanders, and occasionally small fish.
Common Water Snake
The aptly named Common Water Snake, scientifically known as Nerodia sipedon, deserves its title as the most Common Water Snake and one of the most common snakes throughout Ohio. This adaptable snake can be found throughout the state, demonstrating its versatility in a variety of habitats.
Preferring wetlands and flooded fields, the Common Water Snake is frequently found basking in the sun near bodies of water. Despite their commonality, these snakes are not particularly approachable, and at the first sight of humans, they quickly retreat. Their elusive nature makes them a common, but not easily observed, part of Ohio’s diverse wildlife.
With powerful bodies and a maximum length of up to 4 feet, these snakes have a formidable appearance. Their coloration is generally uniform, ranging from dark black to dark gray, allowing them to blend in perfectly with their surroundings.
Unlike some venomous species, Common Water Snakes are non-venomous. However, their sharp teeth pose another threat, able to cause deep cuts with just one bite. This acts as a defense mechanism, stopping potential threats and allowing them to escape harm. The diet of the Common Water Snake mainly consists of small fish.
Lake Erie Water Snake
The Lake Erie water snake, scientifically classified as Nerodia Sipedon insularum, stands out as a unique subspecies of the common water snake, found only in the Lake Erie archipelago, marking it as an endemic species. Distinguished by its lack of a cross-strap pattern, a feature commonly found in its common water snake relatives, this subspecies is dark and distinct.
At up to 4 feet in length, the Lake Erie Water Snake is adapted to its island habitat. They are non-venomous, and their diet consists mainly of small fish and frogs.
Eastern Fox Snake
The Eastern Fox Snake, scientifically known as Pantherophis vulpinus, is an exceptionally rare and endangered species that finds its habitat in the northwest along the shores of Lake Erie. These snakes often find resting places in this area, preferring to stay near marshes, wetlands, and areas adjacent to these bodies of water.
The Eastern Fox Snake faces extinction, mainly due to habitat loss. The encroachment on the natural environment by human activities has significantly reduced its population and poses a serious threat to its survival.
These snakes have become frequent targets of human attacks, mainly because of their surprising resemblance to rattlesnakes. With the same defense mechanism as venomous snakes, Eastern fox snakes vibrate their tails when threatened, further increasing misconceptions and putting them in danger.
Reaching an impressive length of up to 60 inches with quite thick bodies, these snakes exhibit a distinctive color pattern of brown and dark brown shades. This camouflage helps them survive as they navigate the diverse landscapes surrounding Lake Erie.
Contrary to common perceptions of their rattlesnake-like appearance, Eastern fox snakes are not venomous. Instead, they rely on contractions to subdue their prey, which mainly consists of small mammals and birds.
Queen Snake
In the southeastern part of Buckeye State, the Queen Snake, scientifically known as Regina septemvittata, lives. Crayfish are the favorite food of this unique snake.
Found in lakes, ponds, wetlands, and slow-moving streams, the Queen Snake stands out as one of the most aquatic species on the list. Its life revolves around water, with brief adventures on land reserved for mating or escaping potential predators. A distinctive behavior of the Queen Snake is its tendency to hang from tree branches above the water, where it also engages in sunbathing sessions.
At a modest 24 inches, the Queen Snake may not be formidable in size, but its dark brown color, coupled with its pale underbelly, makes it a master of aquatic camouflage. This adaptation aids in both hunting crayfish and avoiding potential threats.
Without venom, the Queen Snake relies on a special diet consisting almost exclusively of crayfish. Its preference for soft-shelled crayfish further demonstrates its unique foraging strategy, which matches the abundance of such prey in its preferred habitat.
Common Garter Snake
The Common Garter Snake, scientifically classified as Thamnophis sirtalis, is one of the most common snakes in the nation, and Ohio is no exception, hosting them throughout the state. Their distinctive appearance makes them easy to spot—usually black or dark brown with a visible stripe running down their back.
Often found near permanent water sources, the Common Garter, unlike some similar species, is not overly dependent on aquatic environments.
Reaching up to 4 feet in length, the Common Garter Snake comes in a variety of colors within its family, often dark with bright stripes. This coloration aids in both camouflage and identification in their diverse habitats.
Although the Common Garter Snake is venomous, it is underdeveloped and weak, making it completely harmless to humans. However, this venom can be effective on very small animals, especially small frogs and lizards that are their main food.
Black Racer
The Black Racer, scientifically known as Coluber constrictor, thrives in areas of eastern Ohio, with some isolated groups known in the northwest. Living in wetlands and flooded fields, these creatures display remarkable swimming abilities, making water-rich environments their preferred habitat.
True to their name, Black Racers are famous for being agile land racers. Their impressive speed is a key hunting strategy, allowing them to quickly close the distance between themselves and their prey. It is worth noting that this species does not rely on venom to hunt; instead, it uses lightning-fast movements to catch up with its prey and devour it alive.
With an impressive size of up to 60 inches, Black Racer stands out by its sleek black color, helping to camouflage effectively in many different environments. Their adaptability to both aquatic and terrestrial environments contributes to their success in diverse ecosystems.
Without venom, these racers use their powerful bodies to subdue their prey. Their diet includes small frogs, rodents, and lizards.
