Plain-bellied watersnake (Nerodia erythrogaster)

No. The plain-bellied watersnake is non-venomous: it belongs to the family Colubridae, not to the pit vipers or coral snakes, the only U.S. land snakes with medically dangerous venom. It may bite if handled; clean the bite like any small wound.

The plain-bellied watersnake is non-venomous, but people often take it for copperheads (both are recorded in 18 of its 20 states) and cottonmouths (both are recorded in 16 of its 20 states).

Records are spread over 20 states; the top three, Texas, Oklahoma and North Carolina, hold 68% of them.

Across the U.S., observation records of the plain-bellied watersnake run mostly March through October, peaking in May with 21% of them. Winter (December to February) holds 3% of them.

Among states whose main season falls within one calendar year, it starts earliest in February (Georgia and Louisiana) and latest in April (Kansas and Oklahoma). The most common peak months are April and May, each shared by four states.

Texas holds 2,226 licensed records, the 3rd most recorded of 86 snakes listed there. Its observation records in Texas run mostly March through October, peaking in April; most licensed records come from Travis County, Harris County and Williamson County. Next come Tarrant County (72) and Parker County (69).

Oklahoma holds 731 licensed records, the 4th most recorded of 50 snakes listed there. Its observation records in Oklahoma run mostly April through September, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Comanche County, Cleveland County and LeFlore County. Next come Marshall County (52) and McCurtain County (47).

North Carolina holds 508 licensed records, the 16th most recorded of 39 snakes listed there. Its observation records in North Carolina run mostly March through September, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Wake County, Sampson County and Currituck County. Next come Hyde County (35) and Dare County (28).

Kansas holds 304 licensed records, the 14th most recorded of 44 snakes listed there. Its observation records in Kansas run mostly April through September, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Allen County, Miami County and Cherokee County. Next come Douglas County (16) and Greenwood County (15).

Arkansas holds 238 licensed records, the 2nd most recorded of 36 snakes listed there. Its observation records in Arkansas run mostly March through October, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Lonoke County, Greene County and Columbia County. Next come Garland County (8) and Washington County (8).

Louisiana holds 216 licensed records, the 8th most recorded of 41 snakes listed there. Its observation records in Louisiana run mostly February through September, peaking in April; most licensed records come from East Baton Rouge Parish, Saint Charles Parish and Avoyelles Parish. Next come Saint Tammany Parish (13) and Ouachita Parish (10).

Alabama holds 205 licensed records, the 8th most recorded of 44 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in Alabama come from Barbour County, Lee County and Macon County. Next come Madison County (11) and Bullock County (7).

South Carolina holds 110 licensed records, the 13th most recorded of 40 snakes listed there. Its observation records in South Carolina run mostly March through August, peaking in April; most licensed records come from Richland County, Berkeley County and Charleston County. Next come Georgetown County (6) and Dorchester County (5).

Mississippi holds 95 licensed records, the 6th most recorded of 38 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in Mississippi come from Harrison County, Lafayette County and Pontotoc County. Next come Pearl River County (6) and Oktibbeha County (5).

Georgia holds 77 licensed records, the 19th most recorded of 44 snakes listed there. Its observation records in Georgia run mostly February through September, peaking in April; most licensed records come from Bibb County, Cobb County and Columbia County. Next come Chatham County (3) and Clarke County (3).

Illinois holds 72 licensed records, the 12th most recorded of 33 snakes listed there. Its observation records in Illinois run mostly March through October, peaking in October; most licensed records come from Union County, St. Clair County and Johnson County. Next come Madison County (4) and Jackson County (3).

Tennessee holds 61 licensed records, the 15th most recorded of 32 snakes listed there. Its observation records in Tennessee run mostly March through September, peaking in March; most licensed records come from Shelby County, Cheatham County and Lake County. Next come Henry County (6) and Stewart County (4).

Virginia holds 61 licensed records, the 25th most recorded of 30 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in Virginia come from Virginia Beach, Chesapeake and Southampton County. Next come Sussex County (2) and Newport News (2).

Missouri holds 41 licensed records, the joint 14th most recorded of 36 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in Missouri come from Lincoln County, Stoddard County and Butler County. Next come Cape Girardeau County (3) and Cass County (3).

Florida holds 34 licensed records, the 40th most recorded of 49 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in Florida come from Liberty County, Gilchrist County and Escambia County. Next come Gadsden County (2) and Lafayette County (2).

The plain-bellied watersnake record leans on older material: only 35% of dated U.S. records come from 2017–2026, and the median record is from 1995. The oldest dated record is from 1849; the busiest year was 2024, with 245 records.

Of the 212 counties where the plain-bellied watersnake is most recorded, 100 are also top counties for the rough greensnake, more than for any other snake. Venomous species among its neighbors: the northern cottonmouth and the eastern copperhead.

Other species of the genus Nerodia with profiles here: Northern water snake, Diamondback water snake, Southern watersnake, Brown water snake, Green water snake, Salt marsh snake and Florida green water snake.