138: Northern Watersnake
In Colorado, the Northern Watersnake lives on the eastern plains along the paths of the Arkansas and South Platte rivers. They are some of the most common watersnakes in the United States, and are native to North America east of the Rocky Mountains. They were introduced into California as an invasive species and are a major predator to the native giant garter snake.
Northern watersnakes are not venomous, but will bite if agitated, and their coloration means that they are easily mistaken for copperheads or cottonmouths. When they are dry, their colors dull, giving them a more dark, uniform appearance than when they are wet and have undulating bands of colorful scales. Like me, they enjoy basking on rocks, sometimes coiled together with a friend, and spending time in slow moving water. Unlike me, they eat a lot of fish and amphibians, and swallow their prey fully intact and alive.