Identifying possible ribbon or garter

[phillycyclocross]

Hi, new here. I had a quick question. This past weekend I was out at the inlaws turning over rocks looking to see what I might find. I came across a tarp the inlaws had laying over old recycling bins and inside was at least a half dozen garters. I was able to grab most of them but the one that got away has me bothered the most. I didn't get a picture. It all happened so fast but this one was a little larger than most of the garters that were in there and it has two bold orange stripes going down its back. I'm guessing some type of ribbon but I googled the description and couldn't find anything. I was hoping some one here has possibly seen something like that. I seem to remember seeing that pattern before as a kid but in yellow but I could be wrong. Any help is appreciated and again sorry about not having a pic. Next time!

Thanks!

[guidofatherof5]

Two orange dorsal stripes doesn't sound like any garter I'm familiar with. Where (State, county) did you see it in?

[phillycyclocross]

I found them in South East Pennsylvania.

[the_edsta]

Def aren't a lot of snakes with two orange stripes... but a light colored ribbon snake viewed from one side could have that appearance...

ribbon4_bob.jpg

[guidofatherof5]

Def aren't a lot of snakes with two orange stripes... but a light colored ribbon snake viewed from one side could have that appearance...

ribbon4_bob.jpg

Great idea.

[guidofatherof5]

Check these out for a possible ID.

PA HERP IDENTIFICATION » Shorthead Garter Snake

PA HERP IDENTIFICATION » Ribbon Snakes

PA HERP IDENTIFICATION » Eastern Garter Snake

[phillycyclocross]

I suppose that is a possibility but I watched this little bugger slide underneath one of the other snakes and up over the lip of the recycling container and it was gone. I just keep replaying it over and over and I see two very close bright orange stripes going down its back. I will keep going back to that area and hopefully I can catch it next time. Bugs me I can't figure out what it was though.

[ConcinusMan]

Not too many possibilities. Eastern garter, ribbon, red bellied (very small) or northern brown snake (dakayi). I'm still thinking that the 2 stripes was an illusion / misperception. The latter 2 are very small but have a wide stripe that sometimes looks like 2 parallel stripes.

[phillycyclocross]

Not too many possibilities. Eastern garter, ribbon, red bellied (very small) or northern brown snake (dakayi). I'm still thinking that the 2 stripes was an illusion / misperception. The latter 2 are very small but have a wide stripe that sometimes looks like 2 parallel stripes.

It's a distinct possibility. Even if I did see it wrong do ribbons have bold orange stripes?

[the_edsta]

Did you look at the pics we posted? Those are what ribbon snakes typically look like (the one I posted was the orang-est pic I could find). The stripes are 'bold' (though that is qualitative anyways) and the color is typically yellow, though I'm sure there is some variation as there is with most species. At any rate, I'd side with what is common and geographically possible over the scant reliability of briefly seeing some snake flee for cover.