Does anyone know what this little guy is?

[bwiegmann]

Hello We were out riding the dirtbike yesterday and found this little guy. He was basking with four normal colored garters, and he doesnt really look like a fox snake, he has more the body type and typical stripe pattern down his back like a garter!! ive been into snakes for a long time and have never seen this color. Hope someone can help me out! Thanks a ton!!!

[bwiegmann]

Hey I just took two more pics, just know the last one was a little fuzzy thanks!

[ssssnakeluvr]

thats a brown snake, storeria species. looks like a gravid female...

[TheArtist]

Beautiful, beautiful snake! Are you going to keep her even though she's not a garter?

[Stefan-A]

Definitely a Storeria. If it's indeed a gravid female, I recommend releasing it as soon as possible.

[adamanteus]

Yes, gravid Storeria dekayi. Best to let the girl go.

[jamromhem]

out of curiosity, why do you suggest letting go? Do they not handle captivity well or are there other reasons?

[Stefan-A]

out of curiosity, why do you suggest letting go? Do they not handle captivity well or are there other reasons?
That, too. The stress from being in captivity may well result in the death of the whole clutch. Another reason would be that it's not sustainable to collect gravid females, as it pretty much maximizes the damage to the population.

[bwiegmann]

Thanks guys!! I let her go asap!! I'm wondering how common they are in Illinois, just curious because I've never seen one? She was gorgeous! Really feisty too I didn't handle verso she should have been minimally stressed. Thanks again :)

[mustang]

well im gld ur happy but some of us ..me ...have parewnts that make us catch our pets ...they just turn into pets that like to get away for the first few months...i hope

[guidofatherof5]

Nice to have you on the forum, Beautiful snake.

[wolfpacksved]

Thanks guys!! I let her go asap!! I'm wondering how common they are in Illinois, just curious because I've never seen one? She was gorgeous! Really feisty too I didn't handle verso she should have been minimally stressed. Thanks again :)

Storeria can be quite common in some areas. An adaptable animal found in city lots, backyards, to deep woods and farm country.
Storeria dekayi | Illinois Natural History Survey | U of I (http://www.inhs.illinois.edu/animals_plants/herps/species/st_dekayi.html)

[bwiegmann]

I'm sorry I didn't mean to hurt anyone?

[drache]

don't think you did
but aside from above reasons, another good reason to let that snake go, would be that they eat slugs which are not easy to supply on a regular basis - especially the teeny ones the babies will need
welcome to the forum

[Stefan-A]

I'm sorry I didn't mean to hurt anyone?
Don't worry. :)

[Snaky]

Welcome to the forum! She was a nice find, but you did a good thing when you let her go :)
Enjoy it here.

[adamanteus]

I'm sorry I didn't mean to hurt anyone?

I'm sure you didn't. Welcome and enjoy the forum.:)
As Stefan says, the importance of not collecting a gravid snake is the potential damage that such collection can cause to localized populations.