Instructions
Observe the snake's length. The adult red-bellied water snake is between 30 and 48 inches in length.
Consider your location. There are many types of red-bellied snakes that look similar to the red-bellied water snake. For example, if you are in the northern United States or in southern Canada, you are more likely to encounter a northern red-bellied snake. If you are in the southeastern United States it is likely to be a red-bellied water snake.
Look at the snake's belly. The red-bellied water snake's primary identifying feature is its bright reddish-orange belly. A young red-bellied water snake will have a slight checkered pattern on its belly; an adult does not have patterns on it.
Look at the color of the rest of the snake. Red-bellied water snakes are brown in color, although younger red-bellied water snakes will be lighter in color, almost a pinkish and blotchy, striped brown.
Approach the snake. One key identifying characteristic of the red-bellied water snake is that when it is approached it will slither away quickly, but to land rather than to water. Most water snake species will immediately flee to the water.
How to Identify a Red Bellied Water Snake
The red-bellied water snake is a large, nonvenomous snake that is found throughout the southeastern United States, with the exception of the state of Florida. It is usually found in wetlands or other areas where amphibians such frogs live, because that is their primary food source. The red-bellied water snake is a snake that is not endangered or threatened.