This snake inhabits the most of the same range as the arid land ribbon snake, but does not occur as far north as it.  It is limited to the central to southern Eddy county.  In New Mexico you can only find this water snake, any water snake for that matter (unless you count the narrowheaded garter snake), in Eddy county.  It lives along the Pecos River and Black Rivers and other streams and ponds in the southern half of Eddy county.  It is protected by the state as well.  I have yet to find any blotched water snakes since living in Eddy county.  On a trip to Houston, Texas, however,  we found one on Februrary 1st, 2003 under a rock.  The pic is below.  They mainly eat fish and amphibians.  In New Mexico, I am sure they eat lots of leopard frogs and cricket frogs (which are rare through the state, but very locally common if you know where to look).


                   

   Range Map                             Andy with juvenile

 Range
 Expected Range