Water Snakes in Kentucky: Meet the 7 Types Swimming Around the Bluegrass State

Water snakes, real to their name, reside in or around the water. They are members of the Nerodia genus. They are non-venomous. Their colors and markings differ, however they are mainly grey, brown, olive green, or reddish with dark patterns on their backs.

These snakes can be huge, with some growing as long as 3 to 5 feet. They are really typical in states such as Mississippi, Arkansas, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. However, they can be discovered in the Midwest also, consisting of states like Kentucky.

Keep checking out for more information about the 7 water snakes in Kentucky!

1. Northern Water Snake

The northern water snake is really typical in Kentucky. In truth, it is among 2 subspecies of the typical water snake. Because they are really versatile and able to deal with a range of environments, they prevail all over Kentucky. Typically, they live around swamps, lakes, and rivers.

They are great at camouflaging themselves, with their grey or brown coloring and darker (black or reddish-brown) patterns on their bodies. The big grownups get darker as they get older, and at some time, they will typically appear completely dark brown or black.

These snakes are normally 3 to 4 feet long. They are not poisonous, however they do generally take advantage of amphibians and fish. They capture these animals utilizing their capability to coil around them and their sharp teeth.

Common water snakes generally choose either standing or slow-moving water, such as lakes and slow-moving rivers. When individuals see them, the majority of the time they are basking on logs or rocks around the water. These snakes will usually conceal in the water if they feel threatened. They are not friendly around people.

However, if somebody records or gets a typical water snake, they will utilize the glands near their tail to launch a nasty musk and after that strike at the hazard. Even though they’re not poisonous, their bite can be really unpleasant.

There is an anticoagulant in the saliva of the typical water snake that triggers bites to bleed a lot. This is a crucial system of defense versus predators, such as birds, opossums, foxes, snapping turtles, raccoons, and bigger snakes.

2. Midland Water Snake

These are another subspecies of the typical water snake, and they likewise live semi-aquatic lives. Just like the northern water snake, they are non-venomous, feed upon comparable victim, and show comparable habits.

The midland water snake is normally light grey in color, although some specific snakes have a reddish tone. They have darker patterns throughout the length of their bodies.

Typically, you will see dark cross bands near their heads, and a shift to dark squarish spots as you move down the body of the snake.

3. Broad-banded Water Snake

These snakes likewise have semi-aquatic way of lives. They are generally grey, olive green, black, or brown in color, with dark spots or bands along the lengths of their bodies. Broad-banded water snakes are generally 2 to 3 feet long as grownups.

They have strong coils and sharp teeth, which enables them to capture the amphibians and fish on which they prey. Like lots of water snakes, they have the ability to quickly adjust to various marine environments, making them typical all over Kentucky.

4. Yellowbelly Water Snake

There are 2 subspecies of the plain-bellied water snake in Kentucky, and this is among them. These snakes are special in look, with a brilliant yellow stubborn belly that provides their name and grey, olive green, black, or dark brown coloring on their backs. However, this just appears throughout the adult years. Juvenile yellowbelly water snakes do not have this pigmentation on their stomaches.

The adult plain-bellied water snake is roughly 3 feet long (normally in between 24 and 40 inches). These snakes live near varied bodies of water, consisting of rivers, lakes, wetlands, and floodplains. These snakes spend a great deal of time on land, in contrast to other Kentucky water snakes. They typically pull away into the forests throughout times of heat and humidity.

Unlike other water snakes, plain-bellied water snakes will assault victim by ambush, rather of actively going after victim. They feed upon crayfish and fish, in addition to amphibians.

Female plain-bellied snakes bring to life live young in August and September. They can either recreate with male snakes or through parthenogenesis (nonsexual recreation). Like the typical water snake, these snakes launch a musk and can bite when assaulted. Predators consist of hawks, egrets, largemouth bass, and other snakes.

5. Copperbelly Water Snake

The copperbelly water snake is the other of the 2 subspecies of the plain bellied water snake in Kentucky. They are really comparable to their yellowbelly equivalents, other than they have copper-colored stomaches rather of yellow-colored ones.

6. Mississippi Green Water Snake

True to its name, the Mississippi green water snake mainly lives in the wetlands near the Mississippi River. These are among the couple of green snakes in the United States. Their bodies are brilliant green.

These snakes normally reach a length of 2.5 to 3 feet in the adult years. Like most water snakes, they consume amphibians and fish and catch their victim utilizing their teeth and coils.

7. Diamondback Water Snake

The diamondback water snake is called for its special look. This snake is black, dark brown, olive green, or yellow-colored in color, and it has diamond-shaped markings the whole time its back, for this reason the name. The yellow stubborn belly of this thick-bodied snake has dark half-moon shapes along its length. 

These snakes have to do with 3 feet long in the adult years usually (can be 30 to 48 inches long). They are opportunistic feeders, and unlike other water snakes, they will consume not just amphibians and fish however likewise little mammals. Once they obtain their victim, they take it to coast and wait on it to pass away. This makes them special amongst water snakes, as others consume victim alive.

Diamondback water snakes reside in western Kentucky in freshwater environments. They like slow-moving waters, preferably with overhanging greenery.

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