Discover Water Snakes Lurking in Idaho 

Written by Megan Martin
Updated: August 20, 2023
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Are you planning a trip to one of the many rivers or ponds in Idaho? Then you may be interested in knowing what lurks just beneath the surface. Keep reading below to meet the water snakes in Idaho!

Top Water Snakes in Idaho

There are many different types of snake species in Idaho. However, not all of them can be found in the water. Some species, like the garter snake, are found in areas near water but prefer woodlands and moist soil. As a result, it’s important to know what species are included when talking about water snakes in Idaho. For this state, purely aquatic or semi-aquatic snakes are few and far between. That is why this list will also include species that live around water and hunt aquatic species. 

Thankfully, the only venomous snakes that pose a medical risk to humans in Idaho are rattlesnakes. As a result, you won’t need to worry about any venomous species lurking beneath the surface of Idaho’s freshwater. 

Idaho also has no species of “true” water snakes. These are snakes in the Genus Nerodia.

Instead, only one species of snake in Idaho lives close to the water. These are terrestrial snakes, but they prefer habitats near freshwater sources where they can hunt their choice of prey. Ready to learn more? Let’s dive in. 

A,Garter,Snake,(thamnophis,Sp.),Lies,Coiled,In,The,Sunlight

Only one species of snake in Idaho lives close to the water.

©Colby Hess/Shutterstock.com

Garter Snakes

Garter snakes are the main species of snake found around water in Idaho. They can live in a variety of habitats, but they are adept swimmers that prefer certain aquatic species. This includes fish, frogs, tadpoles, and other species. 

Not all garter snakes live in or around water, however. It depends on the subspecies, as there are many living in Idaho. 

Head shot of a garter snake flicking its tongue

Garter snakes have red tongue with a black tip.

©Natalia Kuzmina/Shutterstock.com

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Eric Dale/Shutterstock.com

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About the Author

Megan is a writer at A-Z Animals where her primary focus is birds, felines, and sharks. She has been researching and writing about animals for four years, and she holds a Bachelor of Arts in English with minors in biology and professional and technical writing from Wingate University, which she earned in 2022. A resident of North Carolina, Megan is an avid birdwatcher that enjoys spending time with her cats and exploring local zoological parks with her husband.

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