Lake Erie Water Snake

The lake erie water snake primarily eats non game fish.

Lake erie water snake. From the lake erie watersnake annual report by dr. The lake erie watersnake eats fish which it catches along the shoreline ofthe lake erie islands. During winter lake erie watersnakes hibernate underground. Fish and wildlife service removed it from the federal list of endangered and threatened wildlife.

Lake erie water snake. They are not venomous. The lake erie water snake is a subspecies of the northern water snake nerodia sipedon of large nonvenomous common snake in the family colubridae. In the summer the lake erie water snake tends to spend time near the water s edge basking on the shore or foraging just off shore.

Reportedly the lake erie water snake avoids frogs although it may still eat some from time to time. Adult lake erie watersnake population size 2001 2007. The round goby was introduced into lake erie and has become the primary prey of this species. Its ground color is usually gray which often is greenish or brownish and the dark markings that one sees on the northern water snake are greatly reduced or completely lacking.

The lake erie watersnake subspecies nerodia sipedon insularum which occurs mainly on the lake s western islands offshore from ohio and ontario recovered to the point where on august 16 2011 the u s. The lake erie water snake subspecies nerodia sipedon insularum was once endangered but now benefits from the introduction of the round goby an. Lake erie water snake are mostly found on the shorelines of the western lake erie islands including pelee island. Reproduction lake erie watersnakes mate from late.

Habitat in summer the snakes live on the cliffs ledges and rocky shorelines of limestone islands and forage in the nearshore waters of lake erie. The subspecies was first listed as. The lake erie water snake is large heavy bodied and more uniform in color than its close relative the northern water snake. It is an excellent swimmer and can be found up to three metres below the surface of the water but it rarely swims more than 50 metres from shore.

These water snakes are also located where vegetation debris and logs provide cover on the shorelines. The division of wildlife studies and manages fish and wildlife populations and enforces hunting and fishing laws. King march 3 2008 table 4. If left alone the snakes do not typically pose a threat to people or pets according to odnr the lake erie watersnake.

Lake erie watersnakes grow to 1 1 2 to 3 1 2 feet in length. Adult population 2001 2007.