What To Know About The Northern Copperbelly Water Snakes by Wayne Nemec

Description and Ecology:

The Copperbelly Water Snake (Nerodia erythrogaster neglecta) is a reptilian snake that is of a dark black color with a bright orange to red belly that can also be seen by viewing the sides of the snake. There average size is about 3-5 feet in length and are a non-venomous. There are a lot of similar species to the copperbelly water snake that it can easily be misidentified with. One of those species is the yellowbelly water snake, but the main difference between the two is the color of their undersides as the yellowbelly water snake has a yellow belly instead of the orange-red color of the copperbelly (Northern Population Segment of the Copperbelly Water Snake Recovery Plan). The copperbelly water snake is an animal that goes into a hibernation process during the winter season starting in October going through April. The copperbellies are most active during times of warm weather when they search for food or try to look for mates, with courtship occurring mostly in the springtime (Northern Population Segment of the Copperbelly Water Snake Recovery Plan). The copperbellies spend most of there time in wetland habitats, and when the temperature is exceptionally high in the mid summer periods the copperbellies can be more active at twilight and can go underground or shallow water to stay dormant. The diet of the copperbelly water snake primarily consists of amphibians, such as the green frog, and small fish, with the snake looking for its food both in the water and on land (Northern Population Segment of the Copperbelly Water Snake Recovery Plan). Some of the predators to the copperbelly water snake include egrets, herons, raccoons, skunks, opossums, snapping turtles, and large fish (Northern Population Segment of the Copperbelly Water Snake Recovery Plan).

Geographic and Population Changes:

            The copperbelly water snake can be found in western Kentucky and southern Illinois to northern Indiana, Ohio and southern Michigan. The Southern population of the snake seems to be doing fine but the northern population has been listed as a Threatened. Surveys taken place in the past 20 years have shown that populations in the northern region have been steadily declining (Northern Population Segment of the Copperbelly Water Snake Recovery Plan). There has only been a total count of five populations of the copperbelly water snake in the states of Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana with an estimate of the adults being in the low hundreds. Only one population out of the five has a count of over 100 snakes (Northern Population Segment of the Copperbelly Water Snake Recovery Plan).

Listing Date and Type of Listing:

            The listing date for the Northern Population Segment of the Copperbelly Water Snake is December 23, 2008, and is currently listed as a Threatened species.

Cause of listing and Main threats to its continued existence:

           

            The populations of the northern copperbelly water snakes have been steadily declining mostly do to habitat loss and fragmentation. Most of the wetland areas where the snakes like to thrive in have been heavily modified or destroyed leaving the snakes with no place to eat or breed. Agricultural use is the largest blame for the changing of the snake’s natural habitat. Roads and highways are another blame for the fragmentation of the copperbellies as it can separate areas of different wetlands for the snakes to get to. Dogs and cats are another blame for the decline of the snake, and people who kill them out of fear (Northern Population Segment of the Copperbelly Water Snake Recovery Plan).

The Recovery Plan:

            The main recovery strategy for the copperbelly water snake is to conserve wetland/upland habitats that provide enough room for the species existence. The way this will be accomplished to is restore wetland habitats that no longer function and set them aside to not be destroyed by human alteration. The recovery plan also has a goal to raise public awareness for the snakes to try and stop and harmful killing and fear of them. The copperbelly water snakes are a key part of the natural habitat and people need to realize how important they are to the ecosystem. The goal is to get population sizes over 1000 individual snakes (Northern Population Segment of the Copperbelly Water Snake Recovery Plan).

Links to Find Out More About The Copperbellies go to:

http://ecos.fws.gov/docs/recovery_plan/081223.pdf

http://www.wbu.com/chipperwoods/photos/copperbelly.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nerodia_erythrogaster_neglecta

Bibliography:

Pictures

"A Copperbellied Water Snake." A Copperbellied Water Snake. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 June 2015.

"Habitat Destruction, Alteration and Fragmentation." Habitat Destruction, Alteration and Fragmentation. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 June 2015.

"My Favorites Gallery." My Favorites Gallery. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 June 2015.

Information

"Disaster Recovery Plan." SpringerReference (2011): n. pag. Web.