You don't see this kind of snake very often in this area but they are not uncommon.
North Bay resident Krystyna Krasowska-Wyrwa took this photo last Friday about 8 a.m. at Champlain Park, at the end of Premier Rd in the City's south end.
It's a northern water snake, and outdoorsman Chris Mayne says there have been a few seen along the Lake Nipissing shoreline this summer and can be seen along the French River. Mayne says this type of snake is pretty much harmless.
The Canadian Herpetological Society says females are larger than males and can grow to over a metre in length.
"In Canada, the range of the Northern Watersnake extends from extreme southwestern Quebec across southern Ontario and into central Ontario, north to the North Bay area and west to the eastern shore of Lake Superior. It is one of the most common snakes found around lakes and rivers within its range in Canada," says the website.
This species can often be seen conspicuously basking on shoreline embankments, vegetation mats, logs and branches, and other sites that offer a quick retreat to the safety of the water.
The Northern Watersnake eats fish and frogs.
"The Northern Watersnake is curious and may approach swimmers as it investigates the source of ripples in the water (which could be from a fish or other prey). Northern Watersnakes are harmless but will bite in self-defence if they are captured. Their bite can cause mild bleeding because the snake’s saliva contains an anticoagulant."
