In a respite from all the recent bird photography, today’s post features a Northern Water Snake. On an evening nature walk, Jeanine spotted it on land and I tracked it into the water. Fish, frogs, tadpoles, and salamanders make up the bulk of their diet, though they will also take small mammals, birds, insects, crayfish, and other invertebrates. When threatened, they rapidly retreat to the water. If cornered, they do not hesitate to strike but are non-venomous. The specimen seen here is using its tongue to taste the air and water to help locate prey. It is about half the size of a full-grown snake which can reach 5 feet in length. Pictured below is one such adult which I photographed some 15 years ago.