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Copperbelly Water Snake

(Nerodia erythrogaster neglecta)

Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge, Indiana - July 2011

General Information

The Copperbelly Water Snake, a subspecies of the Redbelly Water Snake, is in the Genus Nerodia that includes some 9 species and numerous sub species of water snakes in North America. The Nerodia water snakes are relatively large, harmless, semi-aquatic snakes that are often seen basking in the sun where they can slip quietly into the water when disturbed. They strike hard and bite when cornered, but they are non-venomous. Humans persecute these beneficial water snakes because of their habit of eating fish, and because they are often mistaken for the venomous Water moccasin or Cottonmouth. These water snakes actually provide a benefit to man because of their habit of culling out fish that are sick or otherwise less healthy, thus improving the viability of a fish population in a pond or lake.

This species is black above with a black head. Females are larger than males, attaining a lengths of up to 50 or 60 inches.

Figure 1 - Copper Belly Water Snake

Figure 2 – Copper Belly Water Snake

The copper color of the belly of this species gives it its name. Note, however, that the darker color of the upper side extends well down the sides and into the copper colored underside.

Copperbelly Snakes have a relatively long gestation period. Mating occurs from April to June. The adult females are ovoviviparous (young are born alive). Sometime from mid September to mid October, the adult female will give live birth to a litter of from 5 to 37 young.

Figure 3 – Juvenile Copper Belly Water Snake

Figure 4 – Juvenile Copper Belly Water Snake

Young Copperbellies show a pattern of markings on their back much like other water snakes in this group. This pattern turns to a more uniform dark or black pattern when adulthood is reached.

The preferred habitats of the Copperbellied Water Snake are shallow open wetlands, including shrubby swamps, flood plain forests, emergent wetlands and larger bodies of water if suitable shallow edges are present. Cattail marshes are avoided.

Figure 5 – Typical Copperbelly Habitat

Figure 6 – Locations of Copperbelly populations.

This map shows the ranges of Copperbelly Water Snakes in the Midwest. In pre-settlement times, the ranges were more extensive, but draining of marshlands, land development that eliminates hibernation sites, and habitat destruction have eliminated much of the suitable habitat of this species. Persecution by man has also contributed to declines in populations. Because of their rarity and value in the pet trade, illegal collecting also contributes to population declines.

Here Erin, one of the summer Copperbelly researchers at the Muscatatuck National Wildlife, checks one of the many hides where these snakes will shelter along the bank of a lake or wetland.

Figure 7 – The snake hides are checked on a regular basis

Figure 8 – Capture of a Copperbelly Water Snake

Lindsay (left), a graduate student doing research on the Copperbelly Water Snake, and Erin capture a large female. Pillow cases are used to handle and contain the snake. Even though bites may occur, bare hands are used rather than the typical snake sticks to minimize any injury to the snakes.

Careful measurements are made on the snake. The length of the snake from snout to tail tip, and the length of the tail from vent to tip are measured and recorded.

Figure 9 – Measuring the snake

Figure 10 – The snake is kept in the holding bag when it is weighed.

snake

A sterile probe is used to carefully examine the vent to determine the sex of the snake. Male snakes have a hemipenes structure that allows the probe to penetrate deeper than it can in the female.

Figure 11 – Sexing the snake.

Figure 12 – Checking a snake for its ID chip

An AVID (American Veterinary Identification Device) is used to detect an RFID microchip implanted in captured snakes to track their movements and life span. Each snake that is captured is first checked to see if it has already been tagged. If not, the snake is a new capture and a new microchip will be implanted.

The tracking chip is inserted using a special syringe. Each chip has a number that will be unique to each individual snake.

Figure 13 – AVID Chip

Figure 14 – Inserting the Microchip

The microchip is inserted just under the skin on the underside of the snake at a location a few belly scales forward of the vent.

All data on the snake and the microchip is carefully recorded. Accurate, complete data is essential for further statistical analysis.

Figure 15-Recording the data

Figure 16 – Data

This is the data collected on the adult female snake captured here. GPS location, sex, size, weight and AVID ID number are all recorded for future analysis.

Snakes are released unharmed, or placed in a holding tank if further processing is required prior to release.

Figure 17 – Holding cages

Figure 18 – Lindsay holding a large female Copperbelly Water Snake prior to release.

Lindsay is working on her master’s degree on these snakes. Her data will contribute to the management and conservation of this endangered species

Conservation

The Copperbelly Water Snake is listed as endangered in some areas, and threatened in other areas where it occurs. Habitat loss, illegal collection, predation and road kills all contribute to declines in populations.

The Copperbelly water snake was added to the U.S. List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants on February 28, 1996. The population that was listed as threatened occurs in southern Michigan, northeastern Indiana, and northwestern Ohio. The population that occurs in southern Illinois, southern Indiana, and western Kentucky was not listed but has been protected by conservation agreements. In September 2007, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service completed a draft recovery plan that describes and prioritizes actions needed to conserve this species.

Researchers continue to study the Copperbelly water snake to find the best way to manage for the snake and its habitat. Where possible, the snake's habitat (lowland swamps and adjacent upland woods) should be protected and improved. Endangered Species Act grants have funded habitat management on private lands that support copperbellies in Indiana and Michigan.

What can you do to help conserve this species? Learn more about the Copperbelly Water Snake. Understand how the destruction of habitat leads to loss of endangered and threatened species and our nation's plant and animal diversity. Tell others about what you have learned. Join or support a conservation group. Protect water quality by minimizing use of lawn chemicals (i.e., fertilizers, herbicides, and insecticides), recycling used car oil, and properly disposing of paint and other toxic household products.

Resist the temptation of kill snakes that you find. Snakes are not popular with many people, but they do serve an important function in the control of pests, and in the natural balance of animal populations in an ecosystem.