Here are photos of two snakes that are common to our area, one venomous the other non-venomous.
I’ve discussed the difference between these two species in this blog on several occasions but this is simply a series of photos of the two, a copperhead and a northern water snake.
![Copperhead crossing wet pavement.](https://i0.wp.com/naturewatch1.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/copperhead360018_sP-600x329.jpg?resize=600%2C329&ssl=1)
!["Smelling" its way along.](https://i0.wp.com/naturewatch1.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/copperhead360016_sP.jpg?resize=500%2C351&ssl=1)
![Crossing dry pavement.](https://i0.wp.com/naturewatch1.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/copperhead360089_sP-600x400.jpg?resize=600%2C400&ssl=1)
![Copperhead in grass.](https://i0.wp.com/naturewatch1.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/copperhead360020_sP.jpg?resize=500%2C433&ssl=1)
![Copperhead in dry leaf litter.](https://i0.wp.com/naturewatch1.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/copperhead360092_sP-600x400.jpg?resize=600%2C400&ssl=1)
![Standing its ground.](https://i0.wp.com/naturewatch1.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/copperhead360083_sP.jpg?resize=500%2C572&ssl=1)
Notice how variable northern water snakes are (below).
![Northern water snake coiled in grass, resting.](https://i0.wp.com/naturewatch1.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/nwsn350823_sP-493x600.jpg?resize=493%2C600&ssl=1)
![Another day and another water snake.](https://i0.wp.com/naturewatch1.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/nwsn350996_sP-600x489.jpg?resize=600%2C489&ssl=1)
![This large individual has hauled out on a rock.](https://i0.wp.com/naturewatch1.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/nwsn360153_sP-600x428.jpg?resize=600%2C428&ssl=1)
![A juvenile water snake (about 8" - 9").](https://i0.wp.com/naturewatch1.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/nwsn_juv350467_sP-327x600.jpg?resize=327%2C600&ssl=1)
Know what you’re looking at and watch your step as you go along.