need ID on this awesome snake!

[snakegirl909]

Hello!!
Long time no see.
I was just out doing some herping at "Garter snake field" (an awesome field that is full of eastern garter snakes!), and I found a solid black snake. The only other color on its body is white on the chin. I'm pretty sure this is a garter snake.
IMG_0490.jpgIMG_0491.jpgIMG_0492.jpgIMG_0493.jpg

[indigoman]

melanistic eastern,

[snakegirl909]

Thank you! are these rare to find in the wild?

[indigoman]

Yes, normally only found western lake Erie area.

[d_virginiana]

Pretty neat. Where are you at? I'm in NC, and we sometimes find erythristic ones near the coast, but never anything that looks like that.

[snakegirl909]

I'm in massachusetts! I'm really excited about her, thinking I may keep her. Thank you!

[indigoman]

'm originally from Dorchester great find. I got a pic of one of my 2 melanistics in the gallery if you want to compare.

[snakegirl909]

I'm off to the gallery now!

[snakegirl909]

so... male or female???
IMG_0495.jpg

[indigoman]

Looks to be female.