We've started seeing lots of these Diamond-Backed Water Snakes here at the refuge.
The Texas Snakes book by James R. Dixon and John E. Werler has this to say:
Large Diamond-backed water snakes, because of their girth, are Texas' largest Nerodia. Mature individuals are usually 30 to 48 inches long, with a maximum known length of 68 1/2 inches. They prefer calm waters associated with swamps and ponds.
According to one of the herpetologist here at Santa Ana, this is a picture of a pregnant female. Most of the snakes we are seeing are around 4 feet.
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