Common Snakes Found in a Virginia Pond

There are about 30 different species of snakes living in Virginia, including both venomous and non-venomous varieties. Most snakes found in Virginia are harmless, but it is important to be able to differentiate between these harmless varieties and potentially dangerous venomous snakes. Some Virginia snakes are found in bodies of water, including backyard ponds and other wet areas, but snakes found in these locations are more likely to be non-venomous.

  1. Common Water Snake

    • The common water snake feeds on aquatic wildlife such as frogs and fish and is found near water where its prey lives. Bodies of water where the common water snake may be found include streams, rivers and ponds in Virginia. The common water snake has bands of brown on a grayish or brown base color and can grow to more than 4 feet long.

    Queen Snake

    • The queen snake is an aquatic snake that feeds on crayfish, frogs and fish. Queen snakes live in streams and rivers but may venture into ponds to find their prey. Queen snakes do not grow very large, only reaching about 3 feet in length. They are harmless, non-venomous snakes and can be identified by their brownish color and yellow belly, which has four stripes running down the length of it.

    Common Ribbon Snake

    • The common ribbon snake lives in moist habitats, including wetlands, marshes, swamps and ponds in Virginia. They are very small and resemble garter snakes with their black coloration and yellow striping. The common ribbon snake is non-venomous and grows to 3 feet in length.

    Eastern Garter Snake

    • The Eastern garter snake is more likely to be found in meadows, but it does frequent ponds and marshy areas from time to time. They are also common in cities and residential neighborhoods so the likelihood of finding an Eastern garter snake in a backyard pond is higher than other snakes. The Eastern garter snake can have up to 80 babies in a litter and is identified by its brownish gray checkerboard pattern.