They eat everything they can catch from small mammals to fish. These snakes resist capture by biting and giving off a foul-smelling musk when disturbed. They are not poisonous but their reaction to being disturbed scares many people who think they are Water Moccasins. Water Moccasins are not found in West Virginia. This is an older Northern Water Snake that no longer has the markings of the younger snake.
Older snakes are an unpatterned dark gray.
Younger have dark blotches on a lighter background. They have a yellow or cream bottom side. Snakes are thick and live in the water. Description Heavy bodied water snake that may reach up to 40 inches in length. Habitat Found anywhere in the state with a fair amount of water.