Species profile
Banded Watersnake
Nerodia fasciata
At a glance
Banded Watersnake (Nerodia fasciata) is an IUCN Least Concern reptile present across the CatchRules coverage area but without species-specific bag, size, or season rules tracked in our regulatory dataset.
Confirmed by 22,117 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with Florida, Texas, and Louisiana the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- A non-venomous species frequently mistaken for the venomous cottonmouth water moccasin.
- Found across freshwater habitats throughout the southeastern United States.
- Adults typically reach 60 to 107 cm (24–42 in) in length.
- Females give birth to 10–30 live young in late summer rather than laying eggs.
- Feeds primarily on fish and frogs captured near the water's edge.
Where Banded Watersnake are seen
Background
The banded water snake or southern water snake (Nerodia fasciata) is a species of mostly aquatic, nonvenomous, colubrid snake endemic to the central and southeastern United States.
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's Banded Watersnake article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other reptiles on CatchRules
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.