Broad-banded Water Snake

About the Broad-banded Water Snake

The Broad-banded Water Snake is one of the handsomest of the Texas water snakes - thick dark crossbands of brown-black separated by bands of yellow to orange, like the snake was assembled from alternating slices. That bold pattern, unfortunately, gets it mistaken constantly for the venomous cottonmouth, and many are killed for the resemblance.

The differences are real: water snakes have round pupils, a slimmer head without the cottonmouth's blocky venom glands, and they flee fast rather than standing ground with a gaping white mouth. This species is entirely non-venomous - though a cornered one will flatten its head, strike bravely, and smear a foul musk on anyone who grabs it.

It hunts the shallows for fish, frogs, and tadpoles, day and night, and spends sunny hours draped on branches or bank edges soaking up heat, which is when most photos happen.

Like all Nerodia it bears live young - a late-summer litter of a dozen or more perfectly patterned little snakes. A harmless, useful predator that deserves a pass on the cottonmouth panic.