ODNR Division of Wildlife - A to Z Species Guide - Copper-bellied Watersnake

 Copper-bellied Water Snake

copper-bellied watersnake
This stout-bodied water snake is currently known only from Williams County, although small, widely scattered remnant populations my occur elsewhere in northwestern Ohio. Agricultural development on its limited habitat has all but eliminated this snake from the state. It is listed as "endangered" by the Ohio Division of Wildlife and "threatened" by the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

Copper-bellied Watersnake
Nerodia erythrogaster neglecta

At-a-Glance

• Length: 24-42 inches

• Ohio Status: Endangered 
Description
This snake gets its name from its bright orange-red underside that is visible from a side view. Its back is solid dark, usually black. Adult copper-bellies watersnakes can grow up to five feet. This species is sometimes confused with the more common Northern watersnake which has variable colored half-moon shaped spots on the belly.

Habitat and Habits
Copperbellies inhabit swampy woodlands and river bottoms which often become dry in summer. When this happens, these snakes move into adjacent woodlands and meadows. They frequently bask at the water's edge on debris, tree roots, or rock piles. In the winter, they retreat down crayfish burrows to escape freezing.

Reproduction and Care of the Young
Copperbellies breed in the spring and summer and give birth to about 17 live young late in the season.