Comments on: snakes everywhere

By: Kayak-QP

Kayak-QP — Sun, 01 Apr 2007 22:37:00 +0000

I was born in the year of the snake…I can get a bit pissy when captured to Byan!

By: Bryan

Bryan — Sun, 01 Apr 2007 01:32:00 +0000

That is a Northern Water Snake. They’re a fun snake to catch, but they get a little pissy and tend to bite more often when captured than other area snakes.

By: Silbs

Silbs — Sat, 31 Mar 2007 23:44:00 +0000

I believe I can see a slight bulge where the snake’s lunch might be.

By: R. Kocher

R. Kocher — Sat, 31 Mar 2007 19:17:00 +0000

Derrick,

My money is on Northern Water Snake, We have a dam near my home here in MI were they gather this time of year.

Rich K.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 31 Mar 2007 17:34:00 +0000

Just saw your reply--having trouble getting this one to post. It could be a bull snake, but the patterning is different--but there can be local variation. Bull snakes though, I believe, don't tend to frequent riparian habitats.

The other thing I was going to say, is that we are coming into water snake mating season. There will be a great lot of them out for the next month or two, and the largest of the lot are likely the females. Often attended by numerous smaller males, and the males may become "curious" of any intrusion into their space when they are actively courting a large female, and may even take aggressive actions.

Last spring, I came across just such a sight, a large one on a branch, and she had 5-7 or so males hanging out in the water below, or climbing up the bush. When I poked my bow in for a closer look, the males swam out to my kayak and even attempted to climb aboard, reaching their necks up and trying to get purchase on the perimeter lines. I backed off 10 feet or so and they returned their attention to the female.

-T