http://www.clarionledger.com/misc/bl...ake-789758.jpg
Someone elses pic. That's what their belly looks like. It's kind of a checkered pattern.
Mud snakes I don't think range up that far north. The most likely snake you would encounter with an orange or yellow belly is a ringneck snake. Were they small and grey? They like mulchy areas.
http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Wild...ring-neck1.jpg
There are actually some very beautiful cottomouths. We encountered one that had beautiful reddish brown bands. Unfortunately I didn't get a close look because it decided we were in its territory and when it started swimming at me aggressively I left
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