It looks like a common garter snake to me. There are several varieties. I hope you didn't kill it as they good snakes. Here is a link to enature.com. They have field guides where you can look up almost enything. I have linked to garter snakes. You may find yours there. Sorry it is long, but I narrowed it down to southest, then common garter snake. there are serveral pictures and one of them looks like yours http://enature.com/fieldguides/detail.asp?source=&parkid=&searchText=garter+snake&allSpecies=y&shapeID=0amp;lshapeID=0amp;curAbbr=&lastView=default&lastGroup=7&lastRegion=&lastFilter=4&lastShapeName=&trackType=&curRegionID=2209&size=&habitat=&fruit=&color=&sortBy=family&curFamilyID=®ionSelect=Southeast®ionZIP=&curGroupID=7&lgfromWhere=&curPageNum=1

wayne mo I am going to be one of the very few who agree with you! I find all snakes fascinating, thanks to a great Dad who taught me to respect things in nature, and that every creature is here for a reason. Not that everyone should go out and start hugging snakes...I do understand that fear, but I worked for 5 years as a park ranger trying to change opinions. Too bad the garter snake at the beginning of this post was found mushed. :( Interesting fact about copperheads - there has never been a documented case of a death caused by copperhead venom. But I can say from personal experience that it HURTS! (while hiking, always know what's on the ledge you're about to stick your hand on). When I find a copperhead around our property, I carefully relocate it with a pitchfork. Husband kills them, but I just can't do it.

It's a Gophersnake (Pituophis catenifer) -Todd

Northern Black Racer (Coluber constrictor). They are completely harmless and are among the most common and conspicuous snakes over much of South Carolina. Here's one from over on the Savannah River Site near Aiken. That snake looks nothing like a Cottonmouth.