***NY- Endangered***

Identification- 15-30" (38-101.5 cm) A water snake with a brown to black dorsal color and a yellow stripe along the side of the body. The stripe is on the 2nd scale row and the upper half of the 1st. The belly is yellow and marked with 4 brown stripes, distinct at the neck, but often fusing toward the tail, especially in adults. Scales keeled, divided anal plate.
    Similar Species- Northern Water Snakes are often strongly patterned with crossbands, but these may become obscured with age. The belly of the Northern Water Snake is white with semi-circular markings. Garter Snakes normally have checkerboard spotting and a light dorsal stripe.  Also Garter Snakes lack the belly markings found on a Queen Snake

Range- Queen Snakes are found in two counties in western New York

Habitat- Likes small to medium sized streams or rivers with a rocky bottom, but they can be found in most aquatic habitats, especially with emergent or overhanging vegetation.

Reproduction- Mating occurs from late April to May. Queen Snakes are live-bearing and give birth to 5-20 (avg 15) young from July to September. Young are more distinctly patterned than adults and measure 7-9" (18-23 cm) at birth.
 

General Characteristics-
These slender water snake relatives are uncommon in our area. They are highly aquatic and are most often seen gliding across the surface of the water or diving out of sight. They may also be found by turning stones along the stream's edge. Queen Snakes, in keeping with their aquatic nature, are thought to feed almost exclusively on soft-bodied (freshly molted) crayfish. They are prone to a wide variety of skin diseases and are difficult to keep in captivity.  Queen Snakes do not take well to human presence and persecution.  This, coupled with habitat destruction has led to the state's near extirpation of the species.  They are now found only in two counties in western New York.