Copperbelly Water SnakesCopperbelly Water Snakesandand

Its HabitatIts Habitat

By:By:Matt TekulveMatt Tekulve

Simi-AquaticSimi-Aquaticand Aquatic Snakesand Aquatic Snakes

Queen Snake Queen Snake Garter Snake Garter Snake Northern Brown Water Snake Northern Brown Water Snake CottonmouthCottonmouth Diamondback Water SnakeDiamondback Water Snake

Midland Water SnakeMidland Water Snake Red, Yellow and Copperbelly Water SnakeRed, Yellow and Copperbelly Water Snake

Adult IdentificationAdult IdentificationCopperbelly Water Snake Copperbelly Water Snake

Nerodia erythrogaster neglectaNerodia erythrogaster neglecta Adult- Solid dark to black dorsal surface Adult- Solid dark to black dorsal surface

with a bright red to orange belly that with a bright red to orange belly that extends to the chin extends to the chin

Length is between 3 to 5 feet Record 62 inLength is between 3 to 5 feet Record 62 in

.

Juvenile IdentificationJuvenile Identification

Juvenile’s are strongly blotched and Juvenile’s are strongly blotched and banded similar to other juvenile water banded similar to other juvenile water snakessnakes

Similar SpeciesSimilar Species

Many times the Copperbelly may be Many times the Copperbelly may be misidentified for:misidentified for:

Northern Brown Water SnakeNorthern Brown Water Snake Cottonmouth Cottonmouth Midland Water SnakeMidland Water Snake Red and Yellowbelly water snakeRed and Yellowbelly water snake

DietDiet

Types of HabitatsTypes of Habitats

WetlandsWetlands UplandsUplands WinteringWintering

Wetlands

Types of WetlandsTypes of Wetlands

Floodplain Forest

Shrub Swamp

Shallow Open Water

Ephemeral Wetland

Undulating Shore line

Upland HabitatUpland Habitat

Copperbelly Water Snakes can travel Copperbelly Water Snakes can travel Hundreds of yards from wetlands mostly in Hundreds of yards from wetlands mostly in hot monthshot months

Travel, Shedding, birthing, digestion, Travel, Shedding, birthing, digestion, refugerefuge

Wintering Habitat

• Copperbelly Water Snakes

Hibernate in Crayfish Burrows

Late October to April

MovementMovement

Copperbelly Water Snakes are Simi-Copperbelly Water Snakes are Simi-Aquatic Aquatic

Average seasonal Home Range is 20 ha Average seasonal Home Range is 20 ha (50 acres) (50 acres)

Use 3-5 wetlands regularlyUse 3-5 wetlands regularly

CorridorsCorridors

Can not be intimidating Can not be intimidating Riparian Buffer StripsRiparian Buffer Strips Short Upland ForestShort Upland Forest Seasonal Wetlands Seasonal Wetlands

DistributionDistribution

North Range- Ohio (Williams Co.) and North Range- Ohio (Williams Co.) and Michigan (Hillsdale Co.)Michigan (Hillsdale Co.)

South Range- SE Illinois, S. Indiana,South Range- SE Illinois, S. Indiana,

W Tenn., NW KentuckyW Tenn., NW Kentucky

Endangered Species List Endangered Species List

Listed as an Endangered Species in Listed as an Endangered Species in Indiana, Michigan, and OhioIndiana, Michigan, and Ohio

Are Protected under Federal Law Are Protected under Federal Law No killing of snakes Intentionally or No killing of snakes Intentionally or

unintentionally unintentionally

Cpperbelly Water Snake Cpperbelly Water Snake Conservation AgreementConservation Agreement

Formed in 1997 In Formed in 1997 In Illinois and KentuckyIllinois and Kentucky Remove Threats to its existence Remove Threats to its existence Cooperation of Private and Public Parties Cooperation of Private and Public Parties

Cpperbelly Water Snake Cpperbelly Water Snake Conservation AgreementConservation Agreement

To do this the state of Kentucky had to:To do this the state of Kentucky had to: Describe the status of the Copperbelly Describe the status of the Copperbelly Why Protection was needed Why Protection was needed Outline the Conservation AgreementOutline the Conservation Agreement Address the Accomplishments and Address the Accomplishments and

Weaknesses of the Conservation Weaknesses of the Conservation Agreement Agreement

Natural Predators Natural Predators Large FishLarge Fish Snapping TurtlesSnapping Turtles HeronsHerons HawksHawks FoxesFoxes Raccoons Raccoons OpossumsOpossums MinksMinks Skunks Skunks Domestic Dogs, Cats and HogsDomestic Dogs, Cats and Hogs

Human as Predator:Human as Predator: Management Problems Management Problems

Loss of Habitat and Fragmentation Loss of Habitat and Fragmentation Wetland DrainageWetland Drainage Wetland Filling Wetland Filling Wetland Deepening Wetland Deepening Agriculture PurposesAgriculture Purposes Surface miningSurface mining Water QualityWater Quality Pet TradePet Trade

Management and Conservation Management and Conservation Practices Practices

Shallow Ephemeral and Permanent Wetlands Shallow Ephemeral and Permanent Wetlands Wetlands in close proximityWetlands in close proximity Natural Corridors Natural Corridors Stock native amphibian eggs Stock native amphibian eggs No FishNo Fish! ! Upland, Forested areas to be minimum Timber Upland, Forested areas to be minimum Timber

HarvestHarvest Restrict Vehicles and Heavy EquipmentRestrict Vehicles and Heavy Equipment Hibernation habitat Hibernation habitat Edge from Cropland (Buffer Strips)Edge from Cropland (Buffer Strips)

Edge Edge 10-20 feet 10-20 feet Bush hogging, mowing and other maintenance Bush hogging, mowing and other maintenance

should be done in the wintershould be done in the winter Minimize use of crop and lawn Fertilizers, oil, Minimize use of crop and lawn Fertilizers, oil,

paints, and other toxic chemicalspaints, and other toxic chemicals

Ways to Help Ways to Help

Learn about endangered species and their Learn about endangered species and their HabitatHabitat

Protect the habitat Protect the habitat Educate others Educate others

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