Copperbelly water snake facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Copperbelly water snake
Conservation status
Vulnerable (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Colubridae
Genus:	Nerodia
Species:	N. erythrogaster
Subspecies:	N. e. neglecta
Trinomial name
Nerodia erythrogaster neglecta (Conant, 1949)
Synonyms
Natrix erythrogaster neglecta Conant, 1949 Nerodia erythrogaster neglecta — H.M. Smith & Brodie, 1982

The copperbelly water snake (also called copperbelly) is a special kind of snake. Its scientific name is Nerodia erythrogaster neglecta. This snake is not venomous, meaning it's not poisonous. It lives only in the Central United States. Sadly, it is listed as a threatened species, which means its numbers are getting low.

What Does the Copperbelly Water Snake Look Like?

Copperbelly water snakes are easy to spot! They have a dark back, usually black, but sometimes bluish or brown. Their belly is a bright orange-red color. These snakes can grow quite long, from about 3 to 5 feet (90 to 150 cm). Remember, they are not venomous, so they are not dangerous to people.

The longest one ever found was about 65.5 inches (166 cm) long! This snake was found in the northern part of their home range.

When copperbelly babies are born, they are only about 6 inches (15 cm) long. By the time they are one year old, they grow to about 18 inches (45 cm). Baby copperbellies have reddish-brown patterns on their backs. Their chins and lips are reddish-orange, and their bellies are light orange. They are very good at hiding and are rarely seen.

Where Do Copperbelly Water Snakes Live?

Copperbellies like to live in warm, quiet water areas. These include lowland swamps and other wet places.

The swamps they live in almost always have woods nearby. Scientists have found that these snakes need at least 500 acres (200 hectares) of continuous swamp-forest habitat. This large area helps a healthy group of snakes survive over time.

Special wet areas called vernal wetlands are very important. These are temporary pools that fill with water in spring. Copperbellies use them a lot from spring until June. This is because many of the animals they eat reproduce and grow in these pools.

Permanent wetlands with plants and shallow edges are also important. But vernal wetlands are even more crucial. The best habitat has a mix of both types of wetlands. These should be within continuous swamp-forests and small wooded areas. This mix helps snakes of all ages and sizes.

Sometimes, old farm ponds are fixed up to create better snake habitats. This helps during dry times. However, it's important to keep the temporary spring swamps. Even if they dry up in summer, they are vital for the snakes and other plants and animals.

In winter, copperbellies need safe places to hibernate. They use burrows made by chimney crayfish in upland woods. They also use barns and other small buildings.

How Do Copperbelly Water Snakes Reproduce?

Young snakes are born in the fall. They are usually born near or inside the place where the mother snake will spend the winter. An average litter (group of babies) has about 18 young snakes. The largest group ever recorded was 38 young! This happened in the northern part of their range.

What Do Copperbelly Water Snakes Eat?

These snakes eat a variety of small animals. Their diet includes frogs, tadpoles, salamanders, and small fish. They might also eat crayfish (also called crawdads).

Sometimes, adult snakes have been seen hunting in small groups. This behavior is quite rare to observe.

Once, an entire group of copperbellies, including babies and adults, was seen hunting together. They were underwater in a shallow woodland swamp. Their heads were moving back and forth with their mouths open, looking for food. They seemed to be hunting tadpoles. Even some common water snakes were hunting with them!

Copperbellies usually hunt most actively between 9 AM and 1 PM. They have a smaller hunting time between 5 PM and 7 PM. This depends on the weather. Sometimes, they hunt at night, especially in the southern parts of their range. They also hunt at night after hot, humid summer days in the northern areas.

They catch their food both in water and on land. They often find food far from wetlands. After late spring rains, they find food in the woods. This is especially true if there's a lot of water in the ground, good hiding spots, and crayfish burrows.

Copperbellies avoid fast-moving water like Rivers, farm ditches, and small streams. They also avoid rocky areas. However, nearby ditches and streams can be useful. This is especially true if beavers and muskrats have made changes to them.

Where Are Copperbelly Water Snakes Found and How Are They Protected?

A group of copperbelly water snakes lives in southern Michigan, northeastern Indiana, and northwestern Ohio. The US Fish And Wildlife Service (USFWS) has listed this group as threatened. This means they are at risk of becoming endangered. The states of Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana list them as endangered.

Another group of these snakes lives in southwestern Indiana and nearby Illinois and Kentucky. This group is not listed as threatened by the USFWS. However, they are protected by special agreements. These agreements are with State Departments of Natural Resources, other government groups, and even coal companies.

Why Are Copperbelly Water Snakes Threatened?

Loss of Their Home

These snakes have become fewer mainly because their swamp homes are disappearing. People drain, pollute, or fill in these lowland swamps. They also clear the nearby upland woods where the snakes spend the winter.

Being Collected

Copperbelly water snakes are sometimes collected by people. This is because they are rare, large, have unique colors, and are valued in the pet trade. However, collecting them is against the law without a special permit. This is part of the Endangered Species Act.

Being Hunted by Other Animals

When snakes move from one place to another, they are more likely to be hunted. This is especially true if their paths are blocked by cleared areas. These areas can include roads, mowed fields, and farmlands.

What Is Being Done to Help Copperbelly Water Snakes?

Official Listing

The copperbelly water snake was added to the U.S. List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants on February 28, 1997. This listing helps protect them. The group listed as threatened lives in southern Michigan, northeastern Indiana, and northwestern Ohio. The other group, in southern Illinois, southern Indiana, and western Kentucky, was not listed. But it is protected by agreements with companies and developers.

Recovery Plan

In September 2007, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service created a plan to help these snakes. This plan describes the actions needed to protect and help the species recover.

Research and Monitoring

Scientists continue to watch and study copperbelly water snakes. They want to know how many snakes there are and the best ways to manage their habitat.

Law enforcement officers also check areas regularly. They work to prevent anyone from collecting, bothering, or disturbing these snakes or their homes. If someone is caught doing this, they can face legal action.

Most studies that involved tracking snakes with radio devices were done between 1987 and 2006. Enough information was gathered during that time. So, there is no longer a need for those types of studies, which can disturb the snakes.

However, observing copperbellies in the wild and their habitats should continue. It's also important to expand and protect the places where these snakes are known to live.

Protecting and Managing Their Habitat

Wherever possible, the snake's home (lowland swamps and nearby upland woods) will be protected and improved. Special grants have helped fund projects to manage habitats on private lands in Indiana and Michigan. These lands are home to copperbellies.

Images for kids

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  A copperbelly water snake showing its bright orange-red belly.