Rock Island Field Office (RIFO) biologists have initiated a survey to determine if a population Copperbelly Water Snakes still exist on the Illinois DNR Waterfowl Refuge, near Illinois City, Illinois. RIFO biologist Jon Duyvejonck and Blackhawk College Professor Allan Markezich conducted a one-week trapping in July to determine the presence of copperbelly water snakes and, thus far, only the common Northern watersnake (Nerodia sipedon) has been collected.  Efforts will continue over the next year to sample all 4 seasons.

Although the Federally Endangered Copperbelly Water Snake (Nerodia erythrogaster) is not listed in Central Iowa and Illinois, inviduals have been documented from Mississippi River Pool 16 near Muscatine, Iowa.