The most amazing tale I think I've ever heard!!!!!

[lauwersp]

Today was a big snake day...

That'll be another post... instead, pull up a chair and prepare to be regaled with the most amazing tale I've ever told... and whether you want to believe it or not, it's 100% true... and it just happened.

First, minor background. As some of you know, I live in northern Michigan, near Charlevoix. I actually live in a house on Lake Michigan and across the street there is a large, metal pole barn, within which my office resides, and it's where I spend most of my time.

At 11pm tonight, just 20 minutes ago, I came back to the pole barn from the house. I have a new iPhone 4 and I use the LED flash as a flashlight when it gets dark.

So I walked up to the door and began to reach out to turn the door handle, and i saw what looked like a large large worm hanging off the handle. Though I was COMPLETELY stunned by this, I knew it was not a worm, but a baby snake! I switched the phone to the camera mode and took a picture before switching back to flashlight mode to reach out and grab the little guy.

I brought him inside and place him in my little travel container.

Now... I THINK he's a garter... BUT... he's not an Eastern! He's brown with checks! He has a light stripe down his back and a tan belly.

How was he up on that door handle???? I have NO idea! As you'll see in the pic, the door was not completely closed... i leave it like that sometimes... If he actually crawled up there (which is the only rational explanation I can think of) WHY would he do that... and why is he out so late! I NEVER see snakes out this late. Mind you, the reason the door was lit in pic is totally the flash... it is dark outside.

If it IS a garter, how is it a brown one? I thought the only garters around here were Easterns!

I've very excited. I checked around to see if there were any more, but I didn't see anything.

Please... all comments welcome... especially identification. Note the markings around the head area and I apologize for not taking better pictures... He's really jumpy and I didn't want to freak him out too much.

So, to be clear, the pic of him on the door handle was COMPLETELY how I found the little guy. At that point I had gotten no closer than I was taking the picture.

WOW!

[Stefan-A]

Storeria dekayi.

[lauwersp]

so... not a garter...

[ConcinusMan]

Nice handsome one too. I think maybe he was hiding inside the door jam and came out of hole? Is there a hole or crack around the door jam? Probably hiding in there during the day and came out after dark to hunt for slugs.

[mb90078]

Not a garter, but not all that different from one. They're frequently thrown into the same group as garters.

[lauwersp]

Well... I'm still amazed I found him where I did... still have little explanation for it...

[ConcinusMan]

And he isn't telling.

[infernalis]

They make awesome little captives.

Most will eat worms no problem.

[drache]

sweet
you've got a dekayi

[guidofatherof5]

Nice dekayi. They love to eat slugs and will eat worms.
Nice find.
It looks as if the door is slightly ajar. Probably shimmied up between the door and the molding I'm guessing.