Or a Plain Bellied Water Snake. Depends on who you talk to.

This snake is NON VENOMOUS!!!

Last minute today around sunset I had a hunch. A hunch that said down by the pond I would find a snake. Sure enough I was right! Down by the pond we have a dinghy. Under the dinghy there he was, a nice sized water snake. I'm guessing he was about two and a half to three foot long or so.

The Ozarks are the home for about seven or eight different species of harmless NON VENOMOUS water snakes. The Yellow Bellied Water Snakes have a plain solid yellow belly. Their backs are a solid brown to a dark brown without any markings. No diamonds, stripes, bands, or other colors, just a solid brown back.

Even though this snake was a mean one, he calmed down rather quickly after handling him a few minutes. He only managed to bite me a few times. On my wrist, hand, and finger. Believe me it didn't hurt. I get bit by these damn things all the time. It only looks like it hurt.