One Northern water snake in Teale's Pond May5th

Trail Wood #99 Earl Plato
Time for water snakes? My memory goes back to a time of youth circa ten or eleven. We, three of us, were on an old raft poling ourselves across Plato pond. On the far northwest edge of the water a large, black scaly snake entered the water. Weaving its way it headed for us. I can still recall cousin Sam calling out/ “It’s a water moccasin!” Some how Sam walked on water as he headed for shore. Amazing. The snake was a big, black Northern water snake. Non-poisonous we found out. Scared , yes. We informed Sam that water moccasins were not indigenous to Niagara.
I have stood at the large Teale pond. Ed Teale gives us a good glimpse of Northern water snakes.
“ Up until yesterday we have one resident water snake in our pond, a rather pretty dark banded reptile, easily alarmed and always disappearing at my approach. In the morning yesterday I saw it had been joined by a stranger. By noon a second newcomer had made its appearance. By evening a thitd had arrived.
Now as Nellie and I examine the pond edges in the morning light we discover the number had risen to five. While we watch we catch sight of one water snake after another swimming steadily toward Summerhouse Rock. There they haul themselves out and lie on its flat surface. Soon e are looking through its field glasses at a mass of wriggling. Intertwining serpents. This May our pond is a rendezvous. A mating place, that has drawn water snakes from the surronding area. One, I believe, is thick bodied, older and almost black in color.
… Numerous males are trying to mate with one female. But they do it without any evidence of fighting among themselves.”