It’s one of the water snakes in the genus Nerodia spp. Specifically, it looks like a Florida Banded water snake to me, but I guess not if you encountered it in Mass.
I am glad to see this snake alive. In the Everglades they are too often killed by folks who think they have killed a Water Moccasin. I ran into that problem a lot. Yes, this is non-poisonous. Interesting to me that it allowed you to approach so closely.
It’s one of the water snakes in the genus Nerodia spp. Specifically, it looks like a Florida Banded water snake to me, but I guess not if you encountered it in Mass.
I am glad to see this snake alive. In the Everglades they are too often killed by folks who think they have killed a Water Moccasin. I ran into that problem a lot. Yes, this is non-poisonous. Interesting to me that it allowed you to approach so closely.
Thanks for your good attitude toward snakes.
Robert
It is a beautiful snake. I normally runs away from snakes, but this guy was very friendly. And you are right, Looks like a Northern Watersnake( one of the Nerodia sp ). This was in one of the wildlife sanctuaries, so hopefully it is safe there.
thank you Robert !
All snakes are friendly! Unless you start messing with them. Especially the venomous ones! True story. I was photographing a AZ Black Rattlesnake last year that was in a crack in a rock wall. Someone offered to pull it out so I could get better photos! I looked at him like he had 5 heads at least and told him calmly what it was!
