WATER SNAKES: In response to recent concerns Bradford resident Kathe Johnson wrote us about water snakes, reader Fred Tarnaski stepped up to provide information — and kind words — on northern water snakes. “Nothing to fear from these amazing creatures,” he writes.

According to Fred, northern water snakes “are a harmless, non-venomous species of snake. Can you get sick from a bite? The best way I can answer this is an open wound from anything like an animal, humans, or even rocks can possibly cause infection if not cleaned properly. Bacteria is found everywhere.”

While this may not make Kathe a fan of the slithering creatures, hopefully this information will ease some of her concerns.

Fred continues by talking about his experience with snakes.

“I’m not an ‘expert’ by any means but I have been catching, photographing, and studying snakes my entire life. Especially Timber Rattlesnakes,” he wrote.

He explained that while he’s caught many northern water snakes and been by them, “I’ve never become ill from one of their bites.”

Fred adds the water snakes won’t normally attack for no reason. “The bites were in fact a defensive reaction to me picking them up. Northern Water Snakes are not aggressive. They will not chase a person down. The usually come close to us because they are following prey items or we just happen to be between them and their destination.”

Kathe had suggested relocating water snakes if they posed a threat to swimmers, but Fred explained it’s not a good idea to relocate any snakes or reptiles, and doing so may be illegal.

“It’s a bad idea because one of the snakes may have a communicable disease among reptiles and then disease would be spread to another area. All snakes play an important, vital role in our ecosystems. Without snakes we would be exposed to a lot more disease and illness due to very high concentrations of rodents,” he said. “Really it is us that intrude on their places they call home for recreational activities. It’s our jobs to respect their habitat. They should not be removed from it.”

He said northern water snakes spend more time in the water than other snakes, but “All snakes are good swimmers.” He also noted, “when a snake is encountered in the water at a reservoir it is most likely a Northern Water Snake.”

Tomorrow we’ll give more information from Fred about snake bites.