58°
FAIRFIELD, Conn. – A non-venomous snake measuring nearly five-feet long was pulled from a Fairfield resident’s front yard Monday afternoon, according to Animal Control reports.
Animal Control officers removed the creature from a Samp Mortar Drive yard Monday morning. The snake was later identified as a northern water snake, a non-venomous species commonly found near rivers, lakes and other bodies of water.
After it was identified it was released into the wild, Animal Control officials say. Police did not reveal the exact location.
Northern water snakes can be identified by a cream-colored belly with reddish half-moons. Their backs are usually dark-colored, occasionally with alternating gray and brown bands, according to information from the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. They normally grow to between 25 and 52 inches long.
The snakes are not poisonous, though they will often bite when confronted. Their bite can also release an anti-coagulant that will cause more severe bleeding.
The species can often be confused with the more dangerous copperhead, the DEEP’s field guide says. The venomous copperhead is usually smaller than a northern water snake, and can be distinguished by its reddish bands and pink underbelly.
Comments