Galen,

I have to admit that a 4 1/2' water snake would NOT be OK in my pond.
It does have to eat, but not my goldies and koi. We have a bunch of
them in the neighborhood lakes (10 acres and 3 acres). My kids deal
with the water moccasins. The water snakes get to stay. When the
moccasins come to visit our acre pond, I will have to deal with them
(It is about 20 miles from home).

Jim