Nerodia taxispilota
Silhouette: Beth Reinke · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~90% in a week >90%
The brown water snake (Nerodia taxispilota) is a large species of nonvenomous natricine snake endemic to the southeastern United States. This snake is often one of the most abundant species of snakes found in rivers and streams of the southeastern United States, yet many aspects of its natural history are poorly known. Due to abundance and distribution throughout its biological range, this species could be used to investigate anthropogenic impacts on aquatic ecosystems by studying their movements.
Lycodonomorphus rufulus is sometimes also called the brown water snake, but L. rufulus is found in South Africa. Its common names include brown water snake, water-pilot, aspic, false moccasin, great water snake, pied water snake, southern water snake, and water rattle. Nerodia taxispilota is found in lower coastal regions from southeastern Virginia, through North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, to northern and western Florida (Gulf Coast), then west through Alabama, and Mississippi, to Louisiana, normally from sea level to 500 ft. (150 m) elevation.
The brown water snake is very heavy-bodied, and its neck is distinctly narrower... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Congaree National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Big Cypress National Preserve | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | Everglades National Park | 🇺🇸 United States |
| # | Zoo / Centre | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Edisto Island Serpentarium | 🇺🇸 United States |
Likely
About 60% of wildlife watchers report a Brown Watersnake sighting in Congaree National Park on a given day, based on 168 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 4th most-seen of the 22 reptiles we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 90%, and over a week to over 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.
April and May
In those months about 70% of wildlife watchers report a Brown Watersnake in Congaree National Park on a given day, against under 5% in January, the lowest month.
Between 8 and 11 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Brown Watersnake sightings with a recorded time, and about half of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is seen both by day and at night.
Yes
Of the 3 parks where we can rate Brown Watersnake sightings, Congaree National Park has the highest daily chance: about 60%. Next come Big Cypress National Preserve (United States, about 50%) and Everglades National Park (United States, about 20%).
Same genus: Nerodia
The closest relatives of the Brown Watersnake that you can see in Congaree National Park (genus Nerodia, Watersnakes) are Plain-bellied Water Snake (about 60%) and Banded Water Snake (about 50%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Brown Watersnake is recorded against all the reptiles logged in Congaree National Park (168 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
