The Water Snake

Water Snakes eat out of the water and

The Water Snake, photo taken from Snakes of North America

hide on the shore for a few days to digest their food. They have 30 to 40 very sharp teeth that curve inwards, enabling them to swallow their prey with ease. This snake, like no other, will tear the skin when removing their teeth. They also release an anticoagulant that makes it hard for the bleeding to stop. They also grow to be a fairly large snake, ranging from 2 to 3 feet long as an adult. Don't get scared, however: if you don't bother them, they wont bother you. Keep in mind they seldom attack unless cornered. The Water Snake is fairly dark in colour, with alternating bands of brown with black or grey which appear black when wet. They prey on minnows, perch and other fish, frogs, tadpoles, salamanders, toads, crayfish, and sometimes mice or shrews. On sunny days you can easily find water snakes basking on rocks, logs, and old beaver lodges, or even in tree branches that hang above water.