Adrian Berlutti
Ah, Texas! The land of BBQ, cowboy boots, and… water snakes? Yep, you read that right. While not all of these slithery swimmers are dangerous, a few can give you quite the scare. If you’re planning a dip in one of the Lone Star State’s many lakes and rivers this summer, keep an eye out for these slippery critters. We’ve compiled the top 5 water snakes in Texas that you definitely want to steer clear of.
Western Cottonmouth
Meet the western cottonmouth, the only venomous water snake you’ll find in Texas. Growing up to 42 inches long, they come in various colors—dark brown, olive green, and black. These semi-aquatic snakes are expert swimmers and have a liking for fish, frogs, and the occasional small mammal. But don’t worry, they usually keep to themselves and won’t bother you unless you really annoy them. Just be careful because their bite packs a serious punch—think skin discoloration, rapid swelling, intense pain, and breathing difficulties.
Green Water Snake
The green water snake sometimes swims in brackish waters but is predominantly seen in lakes, marshes, and swamps. These reptiles grow to about 30 to 55 inches long and come in a mix of green, brown, and orange with dark spots. Their heads are large, featuring small scales between their eyes and upper lip. Even though they aren’t venomous, they know how to put up a fight. If threatened, they’ll bite repeatedly and release a nasty musk from their behind. Instead of squeezing prey like some of their snake cousins, they grab it and gulp it down whole.
Diamondback Water Snake
This nonvenomous snake has a cool diamond pattern on its back and a belly that’s yellow or light brown with dark spots, but it can be hard to spot because it’s often covered in algae or silt. Diamondback Water snakes mostly hang out alone, except when they’re hibernating, and sometimes share dens with other slippery critters. Now, here’s the thing—their bite can hurt because of their sharp teeth, even though they’re not venomous. This often makes people confuse them with the venomous cottonmouth, which lives in the same areas.
Common Water Snake
Typically, these serpents, also called northern water snakes, grow from 24 to 55 inches in length and can be brown, tan, or gray, though the younger ones are more colorful when wet. You’ll spot them lying by the lake’s edge or basking on stream banks, and they’ll dive right in if you spook them. They mainly eat fish, but they’re not picky—they’ll also go for frogs, toads, salamanders, insects, crayfish, and even the occasional mouse or shrew. Watch out, though! If you bother them, they can bite, and it can really hurt, especially if it’s a big one.
Texas Garter Snake
Texas garter snakes are mostly found in central Texas, with a few in Kansas and South Dakota. These reptiles are pretty easy to spot, with their greenish-black backs, bright orange or red stripes down the middle, and yellow stripes on the sides. Texas garters can get up to 28 inches long. Something to note about these slithery serpents is that they like to hang out near streams, so you’ll usually find them around streams or in damp soil. Even though they’re pretty chill, the younger ones can get defensive and might give off a stinky musk if you handle them.
