More Pool Snakes

This post shows 2 different snakes slithering around a drained pool at Bamboo Brook. This is the exact same drained pool I talked about in a recent post. It's possible the Northern Watersnake in that post is the same 1 in this post [1] [2], though the bands seem quite a bit more pronounced in this post's Northern Watersnake [3]. This is my 1st picture of this Eastern Garter Snake though; I didn't see 1 of those earlier in the day.

I have to admit that I was a little concerned for the safety of the Eastern Garter Snake. Snakes will eat snakes, and the Eastern Garter Snake was clearly a smaller snake. But when they crossed paths, they really didn't pay much attention to 1 another, sort of like commuters in a subway.

Garter snakes and watersnakes are relatives, and both are good swimmers, give birth to live young, and are common in New Jersey.

May 8, 2023 at Bamboo Brook
Photo 282305418, (c) jpviolette, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)

May 8, 2023 at Bamboo Brook
Photo 282305386, (c) jpviolette, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)

[1] The pictures in the 2 posts were a few hours apart. I took the 1st snake pictures on my way in and took the later pictures on my way out.

[2] The people draining/cleaning the pool seemed to think that snakes they removed from it were returning to it, though they also implied they had removed more than 1 snake.

[3] Although both Northern Watersnake pictures seemed to show good-sized individuals, it's possible the 1 in this post is younger. Younger snakes display their bands better.

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