Description

Nerodia fasciata is a harmless medium-sized watersnake found in along coastal and adjacent counties, and in drainages of the Mississippi River  Habitat examples are swamps, lakes, rivers, ponds, and ditches. The Broad-banded Watersnake exists in Mississippi River habitats and near the LA border. Labial scales are strongly barred. Patterning is often quite colorful, consisting of reddish, orange, or brown banding along the dorsum. Juveniles may be much more colorful than adults. Belly usually blotched with red checkering (see image below). Scales are strongly keeled, as they are in all Nerodia. Adults reach lengths of up to 4 feet (Powell et al., 2016). This species is often mistaken for the venomous cottonmouth. This species nonvenomous. If confused, spending some time really learning venomous species will help. They primarily eat fish. 

Identifying Traits

• Mild to very thick banding along the body
• Belly checkered red

Subspecies Present:

Broad-banded Watersnake (Nerodia fasciata confluens)

(Southeast MS is an intergradation zone between subspecies, only certain areas have true N. f. confluens morphology)

Habitat

Bodies of water from rivers, to lakes, to swamps, to ditches

Behavior

Highly aquatic, rarely seen far away from water bodies

Diet

Fish eater