Brown Water Snakes in Virginia

Virginia brown water snakes commonly inhabit the river and creek areas of Virginia and surrounding regions. The reptile makes a meal out of smaller animals, particularly the water-borne variety, and often gets mistaken for poisonous water snakes. As a result, the brown snake tends to be hunted and killed unnecessarily as the reptile poses no threat to humans, child or adult.

  1. Description

    • The Virginia brown water snake exceeds the category of a small animal with a measurement of length anywhere from a yard to 4 feet long from head to tail. Typically appearing in the water with a splotchy brown skin on a lighter background, the coloring gets darker and mixed as the snake grows older. The underside of the snake tends to be a solid yellow-brown color, but it can be blotched as well.

    Frequency and Location

    • The brown snake inhabits locations south of Virginia's Rappahannock River and also in the region in and around the Pamunkey River. Not one for running water areas, the snake is more commonly situated in standing or tepid water, frequently with rotting vegetation. To warm, the snake will regularly come out of the water and sun on exposed rocks, but it tends to sit and move through the water when hunting. However, the brown snake can also hoist itself up in nearby trees for resting and sleep.

    Diet

    • As noted earlier, the Virginia brown water snake's diet tends to be creatures smaller then itself. This can include animals frequently found in the creeks and lake areas such as small fish and frogs or salamanders. The animals that are caught don't get much mercy; the snake bites and then swallows the victim whole and alive. The snake's digestion process kills the prey later on. Larger snakes have been known to eat catfish to sate their appetite.

    Safety and Regulation

    • Because brown water snakes tend to be so plentiful, they don't fall under any federal oversight as an endangered species. Because venomous water snakes tend to generate fear in boaters, hikers and swimmers, brown snakes get lumped in with a bad crowd. Humans tend to kill the brown water snake on sight, assuming it's a venomous culprit by mistake.