Snakes That Live in Ponds in Virginia

Watersnakes

• One category of snakes in the ponds and inland waters of Virginia is aptly and simply called watersnakes. There are three types: northern watersnake, red-bellied watersnake and brown watersnake. (See References 1) They are not poisonous, though they may bite aggressively when cornered. They thrive in and around ponds, rivers, lakes, tidal areas and brackish waters. The northern watersnake often is misidentified as a water moccasin due to similar coloration; however, the water moccasin has more girth and noticeably different patterning. (See References 1)

Copperheads, Cottonmouths, Rattlesnakes

• Two poisonous snakes in and around Virginia's water sources are the northern copperhead and the eastern cottonmouth, or water moccasin. (See References 1) The copperhead is easier to distinguish, given its pinkish or coppery coloration and the dark hourglass patterns over its body. Not necessarily aquatic, it is found statewide. (See References 1) The cottonmouth is a viper famous for the white color of its opened mouth. This semi-aquatic snake is common to brackish and fresh waters south of the James River.

  The rattlesnake is terrestrial, not aquatic, but often swims and hunts along the shoreline.

Other Aquatic Snakes

• Virginia has other aquatic and semi-aquatic serpents including the glossy crayfish snake, the queen snake, the common rainbow snake, the eastern ribbonsnake and the eastern mudsnake. (See References 1) These snakes live in and around ponds, swamp waters and other fresh or brackish water sources, hunting for small fish, other snakes, tadpoles, frogs or other prey.

  The crayfish snake exists in a single population in southern Virginia. (See References 3) The mudsnake, which prefers the muck near the bottom of a pond or lake, is found in the southeastern area of the state. The queen snake is noted for preying on newly shed crayfish. The rainbow snake burrows into the bottoms of slow-moving water bodies; it also is called the eel moccasin due to its diet of freshwater eels. (See References 4) The ribbonsnake, thin and whiplike, stays in wet areas that allow for quick escapes.

Other Snakes Seen Near Water

• Other snakes sometimes are seen in the ponds, lakes, creeks and rivers of Virginia. They include the northern black racer, smooth greensnake, eastern black kingsnake, eastern kingsnake and eastern ratsnake. (See References 1) The smooth greensnake is common to bogs. The kingsnake and ratsnake species listed here live along the borders of wetlands but prefer terrestrial habitats. The northern black racer, one of the longest snakes in the United States, is hardy and adapts to many surroundings, including watery settings. (See References 2)

  Keep in mind that not every snake seen swimming in water actually lives there.