A-luring Tails
Posted by Kathy Goertz on March 10, 2006
Q: My husband and I caught and released a small snake (possibly a baby) no longer than 1 foot. It was night so the main coloration was either black, dark grey or dark brown, and the belly was striped with one of the dark colors above and bright red, the stripes are side to side not lenghtwise. Can you please let me know what type of snake this is? We live in south-east Louisiana in Lafourche Parish. Thank you for any help you can give me. It may have bitten a neighborhood cat and if he gets sick in the next week i'd like to know what to tell the doctor. Thank you again for your help!
Habitat: suburban/yard
State: Louisiana
Habitat: suburban/yard
A: Thanks for a nice job describing your snake - really helps! From your description and location and habitat, it sounds as though you had a young Broad-banded Water Snake (Nerodia fasciata). Water snakes are harmless but, like any snake, will bite when threatened. Actually, water snakes tend to be especially defensive and more likely to bite than many other species but they have no venom. Anyway, you have absolutely nothing to fear and the cat will not suffer any ill effects other than a new respect for snakes. Thanks for your question.
John Wiessinger ( March 12, 2006)