Top Photo: Northern water snake.

There’s been a northern water snake residing in amongst the sandstone steps at Water’s Edge in Explore the Wild. It’s not the first time snakes have been under and around the steps at this comfortable stop on the hike around the outdoor loop. The daytime sun warms up the rock and likely retains the heat all night. It seems to attract mating pairs.

The snake that’s hanging out at the steps looks to be a female (females are larger than males). But there’s another snake present too, at least there was on 18 April (look to the right of the snake in full sun for the smaller male snake deep in the shadows below).

I’ve overexposed the picture below to allow better viewing of the male back in the shadows which has naturally washed out the larger female in the sun.

Northern water snakes are highly variable in coloration, some are dark, showing very faint if any markings or bands, some are remarkably bright with reddish bands on their bodies and everything in between. (though all water snakes’ patterns brighten when wet as well as after a molt). This female is the lightest northern water snake, the palest northern water snake, I’ve ever seen.

If you’re wondering what is it that makes this a northern water snake and not a banded or other water snake…The bands break up about a quarter to third of the way down the body.

Go see for yourself.

Ranger Greg