BAY VILLAGE - An unwelcome visitor slithered its way into Bay Village on Saturday. A picture posted on social media by user Donna Conrad was shared thousands of times.
It was snapped at the Bay Boat Club,and has some locals wanting to skip that dip in Lake Erie.
"I can't believe that was here in Bay," Bay Village resident Nikki McAllester said.
Tim Jasinski from the Lake Erie Science and Nature Center says the photo is of a northern water snake. They're commonly found along the shoreline, creeks, riverbeds, and other bodies of water in Northeast Ohio.
And although the picture may make the reptile appear large, it's most likely just a candid camera angle. In reality, the water snake is likely only about three feet, according to Jasinski.
"It's probably just a big female that had ate a bunch of gobies and was just trying to bask on the dock trying to help digest that food she just ate," the wildlife rehabilitation specialist said.
Experts say northern water snakes are not venomous or dangerous, unless provoked.
"They're not dangerous, no. They'll definitely bite you if you mess with them. I mean, they're one of the first snakes to nail you if you mess with them. And, you can't blame them," Jasinski said.
For more information on water snakes, click here.