Hello - Help with Snake ID

[Starbuck]

to those that answered water snake; i absolutely defer to your judgement;
but before i read your posts and was looking at the picture my thoughts were 'a very dark eastern milk'. Since i am native to the hudson valley, i wanted to know how you all arrived at water snake? It didnt seem to have the typical nerodia look i am used to? I guess im just wondering what the characters you picked up on were. thanks.

[SSSSnakes]

Originally Posted by Starbuck

to those that answered water snake; i absolutely defer to your judgement;
but before i read your posts and was looking at the picture my thoughts were 'a very dark eastern milk'. Since i am native to the hudson valley, i wanted to know how you all arrived at water snake? It didnt seem to have the typical nerodia look i am used to? I guess im just wondering what the characters you picked up on were. thanks.

The head shape and eye location are off. It's missing the head pattern and the body pattern is not correct. All slight differences, but noticeable by experienced herpers.

[warehouse13fan]

Originally Posted by Starbuck

to those that answered water snake; i absolutely defer to your judgement;
but before i read your posts and was looking at the picture my thoughts were 'a very dark eastern milk'. Since i am native to the hudson valley, i wanted to know how you all arrived at water snake? It didnt seem to have the typical nerodia look i am used to? I guess im just wondering what the characters you picked up on were. thanks.

it's a northern water snake, I live next to a stream full of them and I've kept four in the past few years..... so I should know the difference between a eastern milk and a water snake. If you look closely, the scales look rough, milk snakes have smooth looking scales.