The northern water snake, however, is not venomous and it does not have a triangle head. Water moccasins/Cottonmouths can be active day or night, but typically feed in the dark when it’s hot. It is normally found in south Georgia, although there have been a few sightings in Middle Georgia. Snakes of South Carolina and Georgia .

Similarly, other snakes in the area such as the corn snake and brown water snake may be confused with the copperhead.

Brown watersnakes are found throughout Georgia and South Carolina with the exception of mountainous regions of extreme northwestern South Carolina and northern Georgia. There are many harmless watersnakes (genus Nerodia) that are frequently confused with venomous Water Moccasins a.k.a. Although they may be found in a variety of aquatic habitats, they are most common in flowing water …

Salotti says that if confronted by a human or larger animal on land, this snake will “try to flee into the water” to make an escape. Northern water snakes are relatively harmless creatures. The Eastern Diamondback is ready to strike at moments notice, it is highly irritable and will readily defend itself if threatened. Brown Water Snake: Another snake known by a number of other names, you may have heard of it called the water-pilot, green water snake, southern water snake, water rattler or great water snake. Coral snakes belong to the elapids family of snakes, which includes some of the deadliest snakes in the world, such as cobras and mambas.

Now that you have a working idea of what a copperhead looks like, I want to defend my friend the common water snake, sometimes called the banded water snake. A heavy-bodies snake, it can measure up to 60-70 inches in length and is often confused with the water moccasin or cottonmouth snake because of the match in appearance and habitat - streams and swamps. Harmless Watersnake or Venomous Water Moccasin? are found throughout the eastern United States; the red belly water snake (N.e.erythrogaster) is the subspecies found in Georgia. It is illegal to kill, capture or harrass any of the snakes pictured below. Only 6 of these snakes are venomous.

Cottonmouths (Agkistrodon piscivorus).Sadly, harmless snakes are often killed out of fear for the safety of family and pets. This snake is the largest venomous snake in all of America. Georgia is home to over 41 different snakes.
Like the copperhead, they hunt along water edges, rocks, under logs, etc.

Look for the triangle head and copper scales to truly know you’re encountering a Georgia … Although there isn’t a particular species scientists call a black water snake, both the northern water snake and the water moccasins have dark coloring with very dark brown bodies. How to Be Safe Around Snakes .

Banded water snakes are harmless, nonvenomous fish eaters. These snakes live in the Gulf Coast regions, from Georgia to Texas. Plain-belly water snakes (Nerodia erythrogaster ssp.) COMPARING WATER SNAKES TO COPPERHEADS.

2. Below are Georgia's non-venomous snakes.

Somewhat poorly named, many red-bellied water snakes have an orange to yellow ventral surface. Permits are required to possess any of Georgia's non-venomous snakes.

Northern water snakes are also protected throughout Georgia, where it is illegal to kill or keep non-venomous snakes.


Cottonmouth (Water Moccasin) Black Water Snake .

Family Colubridae (Non-venomous Snakes) Worm Snake (Carphophis amoenus) ... Red-bellied Water Snake (Nerodia erythrogaster) Banded Water Snake (Nerodia fasciata) Green Water Snake (Nerodia floridana)