<Li> Nerodia sipedon williamengelsi (Conant & Lazell, 1973)--Carolina water snake </Li> <P> The northern water snake is found throughout eastern and central North America, from southern Ontario and southern Quebec in the north, to Texas and Florida in the south . It has been introduced in California where it is considered an invasive species likely to compete with native giant garter snakes Thamnophis gigas . </P> <P> N. sipedon is active during the day and at night . It is most often seen basking on rocks, stumps, or brush . During the day, it hunts among plants at the water's edge, looking for small fish, frogs, worms, leeches, crayfish, salamanders, small birds and mammals . At night, it concentrates on minnows and other small fish sleeping in shallow water . It hunts using smell, and sight . The Lake Erie water snake subspecies, Nerodia sipedon insularum, was once endangered, but now benefits from the introduction of the round goby, an invasive species, which now comprises up to 90% of its diet . </P> <P> The northern water snake is extremely common over most of its range and is frequently seen basking on stream banks, from which it dives into the water at the slightest disturbance . It is quick to flee from danger, but if cornered or captured, it usually will not hesitate to defend itself . Large specimens can inflict a painful bite . </P>

What does the lake erie water snake eat