Very cool to see. The leopard frogs were notably staying out of the water ditches (jumping out immediately, even when I spooked them in), and I think this snake was part of the reason why.
This is a redbelly watersnake, Nerodia erythrogaster erythrogaster, observed on the Valdosta State University campus in south Georgia. A small creek runs westward through campus. This creak has a decent population of Nerodias (mainly N. e. erythrogaster and N. f. fasciata, from what I've seen), frogs (mainly bronze frogs and perhaps bullfrogs), some turtles (red bellies and yellow bellies), and little fishies/crayfish. It's a fantastic little creek!
~ janson jones,
http://dusttracks.com
I've spotted a second Nerodia species on the Valdosta State University campus: the redbelly watersnake, Nerodia erythrogaster erythtrogaster (known commonly as the plain-bellied watersnake, Nerodia erythrogaster). The other positively identified species is Nerodia fasciata, the southern banded watersnake. I wouldn't be surprised to find a brown watersnake in the area, as well. It's a rich little creek system that runs right through campus and is jammed with tadpoles, frogs, small fish, and crayfish. Just right for the Nerodias (a few of them, at least). This individual was very near molting, but I was still unable to catch it (without likely getting wet -- I had an exam a few hours later!)
~ janson jones,
http://dusttracks.com
may not be exact local
late, was just starting to get dark was on a service road in the middle of the forest in a deep ditch full of aquatic plants was a large one of these
Found this redbelly watersnake on the horse trail near the airport and Maple Park
