*The colored areas of the map above represent parishes with currently known records for the given species (Source: Jeff Boundy, LA Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries). By no means does it represent the full range of the species in the state, nor does it necessarily mean that a species can be found throughout the parish with the record. This is provided as a guide to where you might be able to find these species in the state and to aid in identification. A descriptive explanation of the range of each species can be found in the text below.
Other Common Names: Saltmarsh Watersnake
Subspecies: Only the Gulf Saltmarsh Snake, Nerodia clarkii clarkii, occurs within Louisiana in coastal parishes.
Description:
Similar Species:
Species Range:
Louisiana Range: Coastal Parishes.
Habitat:
Natural History:
Best Time and Place to Observe:
Global Conservation Status: Saltmarsh Snakes are listed as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List. Their NatureServe Global Conservation Status Rank is G4 (Apparently Secure).
Federal Conservation Status: None
Louisiana Conservation Status: Saltmarsh Snakes have a ranking of S3 (rare and local throughout the state – 21-100 known extant populations) in Louisiana.
***If you live in the range of this species in Louisiana and believe you may have observed this species please let me know (take a picture if possible), as there may be more unknown populations in the state.***
Author's Remarks: I have only observed this species three times alive in the wild, twice on the shore of Lake Saint Catherine in Orleans Parish, LA, in Summer 2013 and Spring 2015. The third was during the 2025 Ernest A. Liner Louisiana Herpetology Conference at LUMCON in Terrebonne Parish. I also found a freshly killed individual on the road near Intracoastal City, LA (Vermilion Parish) years prior to finding my first one in Louisiana.
