The Copperbelly Water Snake (Nerodia erythrogaster neglecta) is listed as a threatened species.
Copperbelly water snakes have a solid dark (usually black) back with a bright orange-red belly. They grow to 3 to 5 feet in length. They are not poisonous.
They live in lowland swamps or other warm, quiet waters. Upland woods are used as winter hibernation sites.
Young snakes are born in the fall near or in the winter hibernation site. The average litt...
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The Copperbelly Water Snake (Nerodia erythrogaster neglecta) is listed as a threatened species.
Copperbelly water snakes have a solid dark (usually black) back with a bright orange-red belly. They grow to 3 to 5 feet in length. They are not poisonous.
They live in lowland swamps or other warm, quiet waters. Upland woods are used as winter hibernation sites.
Young snakes are born in the fall near or in the winter hibernation site. The average litter size is 18 young.
The snakes feed on frogs, tadpoles, crayfish, and small fish.
The population of Copperbelly water snakes that live in southern Michigan, northeastern Indiana, and northwestern Ohio has been listed as threatened. Another population of these snakes live in southwestern Indiana and adjacent Illinois and Kentucky, and southeastern Indiana. That population is not listed as threatened, but is protected by conservation agreements with State Departments of Natural Resources, various other State agencies, and coal companies.
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