Harmless · North Carolina
Red-bellied Watersnake
Nerodia erythrogaster
Water snake with a mostly unmarked belly that can be reddish or yellowish.
At a glance
Size
Usually 30-48 inches.
North Carolina range
Piedmont, Coastal Plain
Habitat
rivers, swamps, ponds
Diet
Fish and amphibians, especially frogs and salamanders.
Pattern
plain belly
Venomous
No
How to identify it
Large watersnake with a mostly unmarked yellow, orange, or reddish belly; adults often have a dark, plain-looking back.
Where to look in North Carolina
Found mainly in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain.
Ponds, swamps, rivers, floodplains, and nearby uplands.
Regional maps show broad physiographic provinces, not county-level records.
Photo guide
Use the gallery to check pattern, body shape, and context—not just overall color.
