Water Snakes are often mistaken for Copperheads because some Water Snakes' colors are similar to those of the Copperhead. However, the pattern on the water snake is always narrow on the sides and wide near the backbone. This is the opposite of the pattern found on the Copperhead.
The Water Snake and the Cooperhead
1 of
A Midland Water Snake, Nerodia sipedon pleuralis.
Peter Paplanus [CC BY 2.0], viaFlickr
2 of
A Midland Water Snake, Nerodia sipedon pleuralis.
Peter Paplanus [CC BY 2.0], viaFlickr
3 of
Southern Copperhead
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
4 of
Southern Copperhead
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
