המועדפים של herper132

Note: I did report this to the USDA who immediately and safely removed it.

I'm assuming it was an escaped pet, given how cold our winters get. It was approximately 3ft long to the tip of its tail, if I'm remembering correctly.

I’m leaning towards a Nerodia erythrogaster x N. sipedon hybrid, but other than belly color and odd pattern, I cannot find anything else to separate this from a weird sipedon. Sent photos to the late Bobby Fingers to see what he thought as well.

Extremely odd behavior from a Watersnake and Ribbonsnake... has anyone else observed something similar to this before? Both healthy adults with no visible injuries and both escaped rather quickly under their own power without coaxing.

I originally walked up on this pair around noon but the ribbon snake took off before I could get a picture of the odd behavior so I immediately left and came back about three hours later to find them both in the exact same position. So it’s fair to assume it’s a reoccurring arrangement between the two of them. The minimal research I have done has turned up nothing but I would love to hear from someone more knowledgeable about this sort of thing!

My first for iNat! Also my 100th Herp species for VA this year! Beautiful black morph male was found ~10 feet from where we parked the car. After a couple photos of him he noticed we were on to him, and he maneuvered into the typical threat posture. Definitely my favorite VA snake!