Once in a lifetime experience.

[infernalis]

About 20 minutes ago (8:30pm) in the fading light of dusk, Dorothy and I were down walking by the creek when I saw my favourite Nerodia Sipedon (water snake) girl actually fishing for her meal.

She was sitting on the bottom of the creek and grabbing minnows unaware of our presence.

Firstly, it was awesome just how long she stayed completely submerged without surfacing for air, and secondly her effectiveness at grabbing the minnows up was impressive too. as the swarm of fish swam back and forth, she was just effortlessly sucking them down.

We sat and watched until it was too dark to see anymore, it was just amazing to see.

Unfortunately due to the poor light and the fact that it is raining out any attempt to film or photograph would be impossible without either disturbing her or ruining my camera.

In all my life observing the snakes on this property, I have never once until tonight witnessed a water snake fishing.

This particular specimen has been living in the same water hole for quite some time, I honestly believe she is the same girl I photographed and filmed last summer, and when I saw her basking yesterday she looks very gravid too.

Just had to share.:o

[Wildside]

Awesome! I'm so glad to hear there is water in your creek again :)

[infernalis]

Awesome! I'm so glad to hear there is water in your creek again :)

There is not, it's that isolated spring fed pool next to my camp site.

The rain is steady, so that may change, we just got a severe storm warning, so I have my fingers crossed.

[CDN_Blood]

That's certainly not something a body is likely to witness too often. I wish I was there to have seen it!

[infernalis]

That's certainly not something a body is likely to witness too often. I wish I was there to have seen it!

It is rare, I practically live down there and this is the first time for me, usually whenever I see a snake, the snake has already seen me and is running for cover.

This is also the reason I am so against minnow traps, water snakes commonly swim into them to feed and then drown trying to get out.

[jaleely]

That's so cool. I miss being in nature, instead of the "big city". Would have been cool to watcher. I pictured it though, so thank you for sharing!

[Rogue628]

Wow! What an opportunity to have! :)

I miss living in the country and watching the native wildlife. Even on my little acre of land there was always a snake, turtle, or spider that was always grabbing my attention.

[Jlassiter]

You painted a great picture Wayne.
Thanks.

[Gungirl]

Very nice! I would have loved to have seen that. Hopefully you will get to see it again sometime.

[JustBitten]

Nothing like seeing them in the wild doing what they do best. Love it :)

[Wildside]

Did it rain?

[Roadtrash]

Seeing a snake feed in the wild is a rare experience indeed. They usually run or hide before you get close enough to really watch them. You are a lucky man indeed to have seen this maybe you didn't get pictures but you do have the memories and can always tell the stories.

[infernalis]

Did it rain?

Yes, but it was a light rain that was over with in about 15 minutes.

It had slowed down to a drizzle, and we wanted to see if any flowing water had returned to the creek. NO the creek bed is still dry, excluding a couple deep holes that are just exposing the top of the aquifer.

This one spot, right in front of my camp site has an artesian well feeding it, right now it's one of the very few spots that has water, so the fish are all concentrated in this little pool. Good hunting for a snake.

I have photographed some other Nerodia from the immediate area..

http://www.danceswithreptiles.com/1nature/nerodia1.jpg

This one has a nub tail....

http://www.danceswithreptiles.com/1nature/nerodia.jpg

[MoreliAddict]

Do you keep any of these? I feel like I don't seem them in collections. http://www.lilwaynehq.com/forums/images/smilies/hmmm.gif

Nice looking snakes...

[snake man12]

I love catching these guys in pa they are so abundant.

Moreliaddict, I just saw this on craigslist, http://southjersey.craigslist.org/wan/3163441709.html

[MoreliAddict]

I love catching these guys in pa they are so abundant.

Moreliaddict, I just saw this on craigslist, http://southjersey.craigslist.org/wan/3163441709.html
"If any one has a baby northern water snake I will trade you some turtles, or I will buy it."

He has turtles, not a water snake.

And I don't really have room for another snake.

If I did, it would be another Carpet Python.

[snake man12]

I meant people do have them in their collections and they are wanted.

I'll take a carpet too.

[MoreliAddict]

I meant people do have them in their collections and they are wanted.
That Craig's List post makes them look wanted, but definitely not abundant...

[MoreliAddict]

I'll take a carpet too.
http://www.kanyetothe.com/forum/Smileys/default/void0-34.gif

[snake man12]

By abundant I meant plentiful when I go herping not abundant in the pet trade.

I have seen quite a few at the expos I have gone to.

[MoreliAddict]

Not sure if I have at expos, I guess because they're indigenous to NY??

[snake man12]

There is a small group of people keeping them that I know of in pa.

Also Wayne has on as a pet. ask him.

[MoreliAddict]

Also Wayne has on as a pet. ask him.
I did on the first page of this thread. lol

[Sophia'sSophia]

Ah very nice pictures.
Thanks for sharing the experience, I would love to catch such a sight!

[Sophia'sSophia]

Not sure if I have at expos, I guess because they're indigenous to NY??

I've seen them at a couple of expos down in Florida.
Their territory encompasses a great amount of America. I think they reach Canada but I'm not sure... definitely as far south as Florida.

[Little Wise Owl]

I've seen them at a couple of expos down in Florida.
Their territory encompasses a great amount of America. I think they reach Canada but I'm not sure... definitely as far south as Florida.

They do reach here. I've seen plenty at my cottage.

[Ryodraco]

Not to hijack the thread, but I figured it was better to reply here than make a seperate topic over a comparatively minor but still awesome experience.

Namely its not a snake fishing, but some months ago I decided to take a look in a drainage ditch on my way home in the late afternoon. The stream of water going under the small bridge had gone down to a trickle and left hundreds of tiny snails exposed as they sought deeper water. Among them I spied what was either a baby garter or ribbon snake, and while it was hard to tell for sure as it was too far away to see in detail, the movements of its body made it appear to be gorging on the snails. That is it was lifitng up the upper part of its body and bringing its head down on them, as if slurping them up. It was a really cool sight.:yes:

Course then I had to get too close and accidentally scare it. :sorry:

[infernalis]

That would have been most likely a Storeria species.

out on the west coast Thamnophis ordinoides are known to eat snails, some thamnophis elegans will too.

[Ryodraco]

That would have been most likely a Storeria species.

out on the west coast Thamnophis ordinoides are known to eat snails, some thamnophis elegans will too.
Oh, I should clarify, I live in north central Texas.:)

[infernalis]

Oh, I should clarify, I live in north central Texas.:)


Was the snake either brown, copper or dark grey?

[Ryodraco]

Was the snake either brown, copper or dark grey?
Fairly dark with paler stripes is my primary memory, it was most likely a Texas garter snake http://southwesternherp.com/snakes/annectens.html (http://southwesternherp.com/snakes/annectens.html)

[KraitedCobra]

There is a spesific place in Prachuap Khiri Khan province here in Thailand i can go watch 15-20-30 or maybe even more different individual water snakes, both climbing the torn bushes over the water, laying on the river bank, i can watch them feeding in the light of my flashlight (the light attracts the fishes).
They also likes to hide in crab holes, so by walking slowly and watching carefully a bunch of snake heads can be seen looking out of the body of the hole both under and over water.
This is mostly 99% the specie Cerberus rhynchops (Dog-faced Water Snake), they are way over-numbered in this area.
I have not seen this huge amount of snakes in a 50m walk ever before.
I once grabbed 2 snakes and brought home for picture shooting before i released them back into the water the next day.
Amazing how they move, side-winding
Very cool experience!

Cheers