Plain-bellied Water Snake

Breeding:
Mates April to June. 5-27 young, 7 ½ - 13” long, are born August to October.

Habitat:
River swamps and the forested edges of steams, ponds, lakes, and bayous.

Range:
S. Delaware to n. Florida, west though Alabama to w. Texas and se. New México, north to w. Missouri and s. Illinois and Indiana. Scattered populations in Michigan, Ohio, and e. Iowa.

Subspecies:
Six; 4 in our range.
Red-bellied, belly red, orange, or pink; Delaware to n. Florida and se. Alabama.
Yellow-bellied, belly yellow or yellow0orange; nc. Georgia to e. Texas and north to sw. Illinois.
Copper-bellied, belly red or orange, frequently with dark color on edges of belly scales; w. Kentucky, se. Illinois, Indian, Michigan, and Ohio.
Blotched, belly yellow, back with dark-edged light crossbars; w. Missouri, se. Kansas
though Oklahoma and c. Texas, se. New México, and adjacent México.

Active in the early evening, Plain=bellies are often seen crossing roads on warm rainy or humid nights. Later they may take refuge and sleep high in the branches of trees
overhanging steams. They have been observed to anchor themselves in the vegetation and fish with the mouth opened to the current, grabbing any small fish that happens by. They also eat frogs and tadpoles.