A Snake! A Snake!

Type: Nontidal
Region: Northern
Location: Bear Creek

My fishing partner Danny Batis of Masontown, Pa. snapped this picture of a snake swallowing a brown trout along Bear Creek, just above the iron bridge. He was told that it looked like a Timber Rattlesnake that had just shed it's skin.

DNR RESPONSE The snake in the picture is a banded water snake which is very common in Maryland�s freshwater and tidal waters. They will eat fish both alive and dead as well as frogs, mice and most anything else that looks like a meal. Usually they find dead fish along the water�s edge and because they have a hinged jaw, they can swallow some fairly large fish. This one seems to have a mouth full. They are non-poisonous but can be aggressive if cornered. Unfortunately they are often killed in a case of mistaken identity by people who think they are water moccasins; which of course are poisonous but live in the southern United States. They are an important part of the aquatic ecosystem and as one can see help keep things cleaned up. Any good largemouth bass fisherman knows the tables can be turned on water snakes when they become prey for largemouth bass. See this page for more information