Yeah, I can't think of any snake I have EVER killed! When I got married, my hubby and I had a huge fight about a snake that we found in the back yard. (actually it is the one in these pics) http://www.glimmeringgems.com/images/snake%201.jpg http://www.glimmeringgems.com/images/snake2.jpg I was livid at the thought of chopping it's head off! It did not have a triangle head, or the slits for eyes, so there would be NO killing that day! I caught and moved this one as well. Contacted our city office, and they came back telling me it was a yellow bellied water snake, but I am still not sure. Is this one a rat snake too? Found a baby one in my kitchen the other day, he/she is at the local creek as well. Having said that, yeah.. you all are right, there are tons of rats around here. You can see why by looking at the back yard next door in the images on my twitpic site here: http://www.twitpic.com/photos/glimmeringgems BTW- I have been a member here forever! I shattered my right foot so have been out of the garden for a few years, but I am slowly making a return! I have missed everyone here and also missed being in my garden! EG

It is NOT a coral snake, a copperhead, or a rattlesnake. That means it's a friend. I think it's a "Northern brown snake" http://fwie.fw.vt.edu/VHS/reptiles/snakes/northern-brownsnake/storeria-dekayi-lynchburg.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Storeria_dekayi http://www.jcvi.org/reptiles/species.php?genus=Storeria&species=dekayi

No worries. Your snake is an Eastern Garter Snake. It's checkers are more pronounced than is typical on the modal Eastern Garter and the stripes are less well-defined than is typical but it is in fact a garter snake. The lack of well defined stripes and the checkered pattern does kind of give it that gopher snake look.

Although it seems very skinny, the markings are perfect for a striped California king snake. Check the link below. Tucker Here is a link that might be useful: Striped California King Snake