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Snakes Found Around Lake Gaston
August 2, 2010
Most snakes found around Lake Gaston are not venomous. In fact, there are probably only two that you might encounter. Your are much more likely to encounter a non-poisonous snake in or around Lake Gaston. The best advice about snakes is to walk away. Many people are bitten trying to kill snakes.
Water Snakes
Found frequently in the water around Lake Gaston docks and sunning on rip-rap, the Brown Water Snake is often mistaken for the poisonous Cottonmouth Water Moccasin. In this area, you are much more likely to see a Brown Water Snake than a Cottonmouth.
Brown Water Snake
 This nonvenomous large heavy-bodied snake with a wide, flat head and bulging jaws is frequently mistaken for a venomous cottonmouth snake. Note the very large "froggy" eyes which protrude above the top of the head.
The Brown Water snake lives in and along the water. This shy snake is frequently found basking on tree limbs overhanging the water. When the snake sees movement or is disturbed, it will drop quickly into the water. If the snake cannot escape, it may become aggressive, biting and expelling a foul-smelling musk.
The Brown Water snake is important environmentally as it feeds on weak, deformed, sick and injured fish.
Cottonmouth Water Moccasin
 There is only one North American poisonous water snake - the Cottonmouth Water Moccasin! Not to be confused at all with its many nonpoisonous neighbors, this snake is a pit viper in the same general family as the Copperhead and the Rattler. In general, these snakes are an average length of around 30 inches.
They tend to exhibit the behavioral characteristics of territorial animals by defending and guarding a specific area, thus appearing to be more aggressive than most snakes. Typically, the nonpoisonous snakes which reside with the Cottonmouths are longer, less stout-bodied, flee when approached, and exhibit round pupils, along with a plain yellowish or white belly void of any band markings.
Make no mistake, the Cottonmouth is a dangerous predator and can inflict a brutally damaging hemotoxic bite!
Land Snakes
In your garden and around your home, the most frequently found snake is the common Black Snake. This is not an exhaustive list of the snakes around Lake Gaston but it does list the ones that are found the most often.
Black Snake
 The Black Rate Snake, also called pilot black snake or simply black snake, is a non-venomous species found in our area. It prefers heavily wooded areas and is known for having excellent climbing ability, including the ability to climb the trunk of large mature trees without the aid of branches. It is one of our most beneficial snakes. The adults are black, but the young are patterned. Many young rat snakes are mistakenly identified as copperheads.
Keep in mind the reason for the copperhead's popular name. A copperhead has a rusty patch on the top of its triangular-shaped head. Young rat snakes don't have this rusty patch on their smaller, more oval-shaped heads. Also, look for markings. Young rat snakes have clear black-and- gray square-shaped splotches. Copperhead markings look like a string of rust-colored hourglasses. Young copperheads have lemon-yellow tails; young rat snakes don't.
Copperhead
 The Copperhead is found througout the area and is venenomous. It is a stout-bodied snake that feeds on cicadas, caterpillars, mice, birds, frogs and lizards. It prefers to live in wooded areas, among rocks, or near streams or ponds because prey are more plentiful in such locations. Favorite hiding places include stone walls, sawdust, mulch or compost piles, and and under decaying stumps, in wood piles, under abandoned building debris, and under large flat stones.
This snake will be seen basking during the day when weather is cool but not cold. During summer heat, it will stay hidden during the day and become active at night. In October the Copperhead retreats to its underground den to hibernate until late February or early March.
Eastern Garter Snake
 Garter snakes are nonvenomous and come in a wide variety of colors and patterns. They may be blue, brown, green or red, with black or dark brown spots and/or stripes. These snakes are abundant in the mountains, even at the highest mountaintop. They may be found in moist vegetation during the day, or under stones and other surface cover.
The Garter snake feeds on frogs, worms, salamanders, small fish, and toads. Ill tempered only if captured, it will bite and release a foul musk, but quickly becomes tame. These snakes have exacting temperature and humidity requirements which must be met if they are to thrive in captivity.
Additional Information
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