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T his article will cover some of the water snakes you might encounter in Florida. We’ll also include some other semi-aquatic snake species found in Florida and show you a picture for each species to help you identify them.
In Florida, Southern Watersnakes can be found in generally any areas near shallow bodies of freshwater, such as ponds, swamps, marshes, and ditches. Adults and juveniles of this species are often found in suburban neighborhoods where development encroaches into favorable habitats.
Water snakes are harmless, nonvenomous native snakes that typically inhabit wet areas. There are several species of water snake common to peninsular Florida. Banded water snakes inhabit nearly all freshwater habitats throughout Florida except the Keys.
Be on the lookout for these water snakes near swamps, marshes, ponds, and slow-moving streams and rivers, as well as flooded fields and drainage ditches. But they aren’t limited to just aquatic habitats. Cottonmouths can also be found in palmetto thickets, pine forests, dune areas, and prairies.
They are the only subspecies of common watersnake found in Florida. Although active mainly at night during the hot summer months, Midland Watersnakes may be found during the day sunning on banks or on vegetation hanging over the water. Unfortunately, many watersnakes are killed every year by Florida residents who mistake them for cottonmouths.
Florida Green Watersnakes are found throughout mainland Florida west to Walton County. They have not been recorded in Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, and Holmes counties in the western Panhandle, and they are absent from the Florida Keys.
Found throughout Florida in freshwater habitats, including rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, canals, swamps, marshes, and wet prairies. It is occasionally found in slightly brackish waters. Diet: Crayfish, fish, tadpoles, frogs, toads, salamanders, newts. Map by Monica E. McGarrity - may be used freely for education.