Nice Pictures! I can answer your question. That black snake is a black rat snake. Was that midland water snake (subspecies of the northern water snake) found at LaRue Road. I have never found a midland water there before. In fact I don't think I know anyone who has seen one there either. I'm sure they have a good population there, but it surprises me that you saw one. They generally inhabit lakes, creeks and rivers. One doesn't usually see a midland or northern water snake in cypress swamp. I have seen them up north in oxbow lakes. I did see a midland water snake at Mingo swamp in a ditch, but that is far as my northern water snake experience goes. Nice find. Ryan

I was deployed to Iraq in 2004 threw 2005. Saddam Hussain collected exotic animals. I mean exotic animals that killed people and he used them to torture citizens and enemies. I was first stationed at his sons hunting palace. Mainly saw huge fish there but have heard stories of different animals they found and had to clear out. Never saw a python there but did see two cobras. One was alive and was a tan color which was 4 to five feet long and the other was a long black snake that was at least 10ft long. It looked dead and was in a shallow stream. I did not get that close to it. The biggest camel spider I saw was in Camp Arifjohn Kuwait. It was the size of my boot. So it was like ten to 12 inches.

This is a young Northern Watersnake (Nerodia sipedon).

Coral Groundsnake Tierrera coral (Atractus elaps) harmless