Although the Northern Watersnake is nonpoisonous it does have a modified saliva that contains an anticoagulant. This causes its prey to lose blood and as a consequence strength. This Viceroy butterfly is seen adding its color to the wetlands here in Ohio. Often mistaken for the Monarch, the Viceroy gains an advantage by this similarity. The larval caterpillars of the Monarch live almost exclusively on Milkweed.
Milkweed contains a milky juice that birds find extremely distasteful.
This causes birds to avoid consuming the Monarch butterfly. The Viceroys visual similarity to Monarchs cause birds to avoid the Viceroys as well. When an animal has an advantage due to a similarity to another animal it is called mimicry. The Bald Eagle is certainly one of Ohio's most majestic birds. Many people are not aware that Bald Eagles are residents of Ohio, but as this picture taken in Ohio shows, the Bald Eagle is making a comeback to our state.