I just looked through one of Justin's books and it could be a water snake. I thought they were brown snakes, but according to the book they have black phases and may be reddish or white banded.

Quote Originally Posted by CathyBogart
It's most likely not a mudsnake. Mudsnakes are solid colored on top and striped in the belly. Also, mudsnakes are glossy, and this snake has matte scales. They're both COOL little sankes, mudsnakes and hognoses, with neat behaviors.
I looked at the mud snakes in the book too, and you're right, the red is on the belly and up the sides slightly, but doesn't go all around.