Better picture

[rubyduby]

Here we go

 

[Lisak1]

Oh my! That's some girth on that slithery visitor!

 

[addy1]

UT oh! Looks like my northern water snakes.

 

[addy1]

I highly suggest, trap remove....................... I know I have more snakes, at least 3 one huge, one baby, one juvenile and I am sure more. Will be trapping again once they are seen, in the spring. This cold weather hit we have had they all went into hiding.

 

[addy1]

wet look

 

[rubyduby]

This is where he likes to lay...right where my fingers grasp the lid to the skimmer...I have since screwed a hook into a 4' dowel and lift it that way...He is not afraid of me anymore since he stayed in place until I put the lid back on...We have a long water channel that runs in back of all of our houses on this street so my pond is easy access for all of the snakes, turtles, ect...

 

[rubyduby]

Oh my! That's some girth on that slithery visitor!

Yes, he has a very wide girth, I would say about three to three and a half inches across. I hope they're not eggs!!!

 

[addy1]

If it is a northern water snake, they give live birth, usually done with babies in OCT. up to 60 normal 10-20

 

[rubyduby]

wet lookView attachment 154517

You take the best pics addy1...and yes, they look very similar but mine matches the pics for the Florida Banded Water Snake exactly...They must be very closely related...He is not afraid of me which I find weird considering I have had little actual interaction with him...The fact that he is not moving today from the skimmer might mean that he snacked on some fish last night (even though I do not see a reduction in the school. but it's hard to count them all) OR he is a she and ready to drop eggs or did you say that they give live birth?

 

[addy1]

We are cold enough now my spottings of them has stopped, might be done with the battle until next spring. They have inhaled over 200 fish.

 

[addy1]

she and ready to drop eggs or did you say that they give live birth?

I would need to look up that one, the northern does live birth. You need to look up their habits and if eggs vs live birth.

 

[rubyduby]

If it is a northern water snake, they give live birth, usually done with babies in OCT. up to 60 normal 10-20

OMG, I just got this..What a nightmare if in fact he is a she and ready to give birth...My Giant Egret will have lots to eat if that is the case! October you say? I pray that she is a he...

 

[addy1]

They are ovoviviparous. Mating occurs from March to May, and the young are born from May to August, in broods of 25–57. The newborns are 180–223 mm (7.0–8.8 inches) in total length

They make eggs but they stay in the body until hatch then give live birth.

Related to the northern water snake.......................good luck! Your egret will have a lot to eat. But not this year, unless if a she, she mated late. Then may be dropping babies soon.

 

[rubyduby]

They are ovoviviparous. Mating occurs from March to May, and the young are born from May to August, in broods of 25–57. The newborns are 180–223 mm (7.0–8.8 inches) in total length

They make eggs but they stay in the body until hatch then give live birth.

Thank you, I just read the same...except that:
In Florida, females typically give live birth to 6-83 young between July and September. So I am hopefully safe (even though we are still very close to September

 

[addy1]

Thank you, I just read the same...except that:
In Florida, females typically give live birth to 6-83 young between July and September. So I am hopefully safe (even though we are still very close to September

lol all depends on what link you read! Fingers crossed for you!