forgot to mention i'm in southern indiana. temp today 43F and sunny. this rock pile about20 yards from pond.
'banded water snake' link is same as the 2nd one listed in my message.

sorry the link to your photo didn't work. The key to identifying it is in the head shape. color patterns vary and i have seen old banded water snakes so black you'd swear it was a cottonmouth and babies so pretty they look like a copperhead. Always err on the side of caution of course . Water snakes often have a mean attitude and are quick to deliver a nasty bite even though its not poisonous

these first links are not 'clickable', but if u cut and paste into browser 'address field' i think they'll work.

2nd pic looked like a corn snake

head shape looks non poisonous to me. curlyrebel may have it. corn , rat ,fox they vary in color a lot

Hi folks. In my years of study, and a very tough Herpetology professor (Reptiles and Amphibians), I have learned that head shape is not a valid means of telling whether a snake is venomous, and should not be used at all. Sorry to the people who said this; I do not mean to diss you, but there it is.
Though the pattern looks like Copperhead, it certainly is not, and is a Midland Water Snake. Bandeds live far to the south. Please tell me you did NOT kill it. If you did, I have little use for you. I cannot stand people who come to a forum with people who love reptiles and ask what kind of reptile they have killed, with pictures (the second picture looks like the snake is dead). This is like coming onto a dog lover's forum and asking what kind of dog, Beagle or Basset, you hacked to death.
Sorry, but I love nature, all of it, and none of it is out to get us if we respect it (except perhaps for Grizzly Bear).

Here is a link that might be useful: My Snake Page

sorry i guess i know just enough about snakes to help someone else get into trouble. there is one poisonous snake in the u.s. that does not have the characteristic head shape of a viper- the coral snake though clearly the snake in question could not be mistaken for that one.

hey danetherton, thx for the info. i most definitely did NOT kill this snake, nor ANY snake. i LOVE snakes; they are my 'spirit animal'. it was strange to see this guy out so late in such chilly weather.
thx again, and "Snakes rule!"

btw, sherman minton's "amphibians and reptiles of indiana" shows the midland banded water snake(Neroidia sipedon pleuralis) in so. ind.