Water Snake?

DanteMartiniello · 07-08-2017, 09:36 PM

Tonight at twilight me and my family encountered a moving "eel" looking thing in the water. I didn't worry too much...

Ans then I started fishing on my dock and put my big toe in the water, and a 3 foot brown and tan snake tried to grab it, and Wow that freaked me out...

I tried to catch it, but it escaped and grounded on my neighbors lawn.

--

And also, has anyone seen the decline of Frogs in the lake, I thought it could have been those damn snakes... But in really not sure.

--

If anyone knows any information about these snakes or the frog "decline" I would like to hear it.

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winnipiseogee · 07-09-2017, 06:13 AM

I'm guessing it was probably one of these....

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_water_snake

Our new house has a cluster of them that have lived nearby for years. My children have named the largest one "Bob"

It was pretty unnerving seeing them around for the first year or so. Especially one time when I looked down to see one swimming under me.

That said I spoke to the naturalists at the Squam Lake Science Center and they told me the snakes are pretty harmless but its important to leave the alone. They are skittish and will generally run away from you but if try and corner one they can get pretty fierce. The bite isn't poisonous but it hurts like heck I'm told.

Oh and they are definitely to blame for the frogs disappearing.

noreast · 07-09-2017, 06:50 AM

They may be harmless (Hard bite) but they're very aggressive. Frogs have been in serious decline for a long time now, all the fertilizer, weed killer and pesticides have more impact on them since they're right in the shallows.

GodSmile · 08-10-2017, 11:09 AM

Basking on land near the ice cream place, just between shallow water and parking lot (near Mt Washington dock).... rather large and rather unnerving....

Greene's Basin Girl · 08-10-2017, 12:50 PM

We had a resident water snake last year. We noticed that he or another snake was back yesterday. The snake suns itself on a tiny island not to far from where we float. I must say that we are not excited about our uninvited guest!

Patiently Watching · 08-10-2017, 10:08 PM

They get quite large. I had one at our house we estimate to be almost 4ft long and about the size of a fire hose....

07-08-2017, 09:36 PM	#1
DanteMartiniello Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2017 Posts: 19 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Water Snake? Tonight at twilight me and my family encountered a moving "eel" looking thing in the water. I didn't worry too much... Ans then I started fishing on my dock and put my big toe in the water, and a 3 foot brown and tan snake tried to grab it, and Wow that freaked me out... I tried to catch it, but it escaped and grounded on my neighbors lawn. -- And also, has anyone seen the decline of Frogs in the lake, I thought it could have been those damn snakes... But in really not sure. -- If anyone knows any information about these snakes or the frog "decline" I would like to hear it. Sent from my iPhone using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app

08-10-2017, 11:09 AM	#4
GodSmile Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Alton Bay Posts: 190 Thanks: 91 Thanked 57 Times in 37 Posts	Saw one near Meredith Town docks last week. Basking on land near the ice cream place, just between shallow water and parking lot (near Mt Washington dock).... rather large and rather unnerving....

07-09-2017, 06:13 AM	#2
winnipiseogee Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 297 Thanks: 67 Thanked 152 Times in 79 Posts	I'm guessing it was probably one of these.... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_water_snake Our new house has a cluster of them that have lived nearby for years. My children have named the largest one "Bob" It was pretty unnerving seeing them around for the first year or so. Especially one time when I looked down to see one swimming under me. That said I spoke to the naturalists at the Squam Lake Science Center and they told me the snakes are pretty harmless but its important to leave the alone. They are skittish and will generally run away from you but if try and corner one they can get pretty fierce. The bite isn't poisonous but it hurts like heck I'm told. Oh and they are definitely to blame for the frogs disappearing.

07-09-2017, 06:50 AM	#3
noreast Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 648 Thanks: 316 Thanked 120 Times in 93 Posts	They may be harmless (Hard bite) but they're very aggressive. Frogs have been in serious decline for a long time now, all the fertilizer, weed killer and pesticides have more impact on them since they're right in the shallows.

08-10-2017, 12:50 PM	#5
Greene's Basin Girl Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Moultonborough, NH Posts: 1,515 Thanks: 394 Thanked 527 Times in 269 Posts	We had a resident water snake last year. We noticed that he or another snake was back yesterday. The snake suns itself on a tiny island not to far from where we float. I must say that we are not excited about our uninvited guest!

08-10-2017, 10:08 PM	#6
Patiently Watching Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 184 Thanks: 2 Thanked 42 Times in 34 Posts	They get quite large. I had one at our house we estimate to be almost 4ft long and about the size of a fire hose....