Copperbelly Water Snake

The copperbelly water snake is found in Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, and Ohio. Most water snakes have dark blotches and chubby bodies. They live on water and land and eat fish, frogs, and other amphibians. They kill their prey with a non-poisonous bite. The Copperbelly female can give birth to 30 to 75 living young. Water snakes are usually bad-tempered. They can inflate their heads and will strike in self-defense. They may release a foul-smelling fluid.

credit: National Archives Digital Collection