Watersnakes?

Yesterday while wading Turtle Creek a snake brushed past my legs!
It was about 5 feet , very slender and an even light brown in colour.
I've not lived in PA very long...any idea what species....dangerous?

Right shape but definately a plain unmarked light brown.

copperhead and water snakes look very very similar. only real difference is the belly copperheads have the black and white checker board and like all venomous snakes they have an arrow shaped head. 

Thanks guys....I jumped outa my skin anyway at the time. Where I come from, West Australia, it could well have been a final encounter...LOL.

ORIGINAL: Lochswa

Generally as well u dont find copperheads in or near the water.

 
Found these on a few different web sites;
 
During the warm months they may occupy a variety of habitats such as emergent wetlands, areas along streams and upland areas.
 
Copperheads prefer rocky, forested hillsides and wetlands for habitat. Wet areas are particularly sought out in the hot summer months.
 
Because of how adaptable the copperhead is, one may find it living in dry or wet areas, around or under rotting logs, near large flat stones by streams, and wood piles where it seeks mice and other animals for food.
 
Copperheads can be found in most all habitats, although they often prefer to be near streams and other waterways.

Hi Brad.
 
Swan --
 
What you saw is a water snake likely.  I very big one btw..  They are probably Pa's most aggressive and can be downright nasty.  All other Pa's snakes, will usually flee although, copperheads can be considered nasty, but they seem more curious, persistently curious sometimes.
 
Copperheads do not reach anywhere close to 60" -- I've never seen one greater than 25 although, 3 - 3.5 feet are possible.
 
Water snakes and copperheads resemble each other very closely, some think milk snakes are copperheads too.  It's easy for us to assume they ALL are copperheads, which I guess could be a good assumption.  However, nine times out of ten, they are water snakes.  Water snakes also vary greatly in color, based on sub-species, life cycle, and age.  Erie have their own sub-species along its tribs.  It is supposively a mix between a watersnake from the canadian side, with ours.  If you've ever seen a large snake chasing down steelhead smolt, you've likely seen the Lake Eeie watersnake. 
 
Yes, I have seen water snakes with no patterns, just tanish like you've decsribed.  Copperheads seriously have a copper head, up close, there is a great difference in the head color versus the tanish/brown body.  As stated above, the diamond head is the dead give away and the second thing I look for.  The first being size.  If I see a snake around 20-30 inches long in the water, it certainly gets my attention.  Copperheads will almost ALWAYS swim with their head on top of the water with their entire body underneath.  Watersnakes will too, but they also will spend much time entirely under the surface (running into people's legs; ).  All other snakes I've seen in the water, swim with their head and entire body on top.  The vertical pupil also is also a way to identify a venomed snake in PA.  We don't have any fierce or brown snakes Swan!!  Thank God!!  Black snakes can make you sick from their saliva .. so they say.
 

Habitat: You might find a copperhead in almost any upland habitat. Northern copperheads are found in rocky areas and wooded hillsides. They are often found around sawdust piles, slab piles or rotting buildings. They are also found along wooded edges and brushy areas. Power line rights-of-way make excellent habitat if not mowed. Southern copperheads seem to prefer low-lying areas near streams and swamps, and are often confused with the cottonmouth water moccasin, which is larger (heavier-bodied) and readily swims. Copperheads prefer to avoid the water. Wooded areas with brush piles, fallen trees or logs are good habitat
 
 

cool thread.  I also thought coppers to be close to water.

Hi Silverkype....After reading these posts I am convinced it was a particularly lengthy water-snake. It had a head the same width as the body, not triangular, and seemed as shocked as I did as we both instantly took off in opposite directions at a rate of knots!!!!
Also it swam off with head and body all below the surface.

I had a dog that mated with a cat wanna buy a cog?

Acually the milk snake has the checkered belly with almost identical markings on top like a copperhead!