Lake Erie Watersnake
This nonvenomous, often nearly patternless watersnake lives on the limestone islands of western Lake Erie, where invasive round gobies transformed most of its diet and helped fuel a celebrated recovery.
Artwork inspired by August Biehle Jr.
The Lake Erie watersnake is an island-adapted subspecies of northern watersnake, usually grayer and less strongly banded than mainland relatives. It swims close to rocky shorelines and now eats large numbers of invasive round gobies. Once persecuted and federally threatened, it recovered enough to leave the endangered-species list in 2011 after habitat protection, monitoring, and sustained public education.
Look from public shoreline paths on warm calm days, especially where limestone ledges, riprap, docks, and vegetation provide both sun and shelter. Most individuals remain close to the water, but they retreat inland to frost-free cracks and foundations for winter. Never grab, corner, or kill one: watersnakes flee when possible and may bite defensively when handled, but they are not venomous.
- Range
- Western Lake Erie islands in Ohio and Ontario
- Diet shift
- Now dominated by invasive round goby
- Federal status
- Recovered and delisted in 2011
Quick guide
- Scan sun-warmed edges
- Look along limestone shelves, riprap, docks, and crevices close to water.
- Expect subdued markings
- Many are gray-brown with reduced bands, unlike strongly patterned mainland watersnakes.
How to spot an island specialist without disturbing it
- Scan sun-warmed edges
- Look along limestone shelves, riprap, docks, and crevices close to water.
- Expect subdued markings
- Many are gray-brown with reduced bands, unlike strongly patterned mainland watersnakes.
- Watch from several yards
- A still observer is more likely to see swimming or basking behavior.
- Never handle
- Give the snake an escape route and allow it to control the encounter.
Good to know
Nonvenomous does not mean handleable. A cornered watersnake can defend itself vigorously. Observe only from public land, never expose hibernation crevices, and do not publish den locations.
Notice these
- Heavy gray-brown body
- Reduced or absent dark bands
- Rocky shoreline swimming and basking