What Kind Of Snake Is This? - WV (Eastern Panhandle)

It looks more like a northern water snake to me ...

Mittens note that he scales are flat in appearance. This is known as smooth scales and one of the first things to look at when identifying a snake. Smooth scales are found on many colubrids including rat snakes and corn snakes. Nerodia or water snakes, have rough scales (formally called keeled) which makes them have that rough look and texture to them.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Looks like a rat snake to me.