Found this guy in my backyard. Is he a garter snake? If not what is it

[EasternGirl]

We have people coming on here finding snakes that don't even want to find snakes at this point...geez...I would give anything to find some easterns in my yard! Where are all the snakies around here?? "Hey all you easterns! Come to my yard! All are welcome in Marnie's yard! I will feed you...."

[BUSHSNAKE]

Thats not a sirtalis...looks like brachystoma to me,,where was this snake found?

[EasternGirl]

Thank you Joe...I was going to say it didn't look like an eastern but I have been wrong about that lately so I kept my mouth shut! Easterns apparently look different farther north from here...and it's hard to tell in pics.

[kueluck]

Well at least you ALREADY have one

Oh this is just ridiculous now! Everyone is finding snakes except for me...and now people are finding easterns! Nice find. Please take good care of her. Welcome to the forum!

[Selkielass]

Thamnophis brachystoma (Short-headed Gartersnake, Shorthead Garter Snake) Might be a Short headed Garter snake, could also be a Butlers garter- Its lateral stripes are pretty distinct, but they may not be centered on the third row of side scales.

If it's a Butler, it looks VERY fat or gravid to me, though it fits the description I have read in some early papers that describe Butlers as a small stocky snake tapering rapidly at head and tail like a cigar. Could be regional variation.

[EasternGirl]

Well at least you ALREADY have one

This is true. Hang in there...my eastern female and male are canoodling everyday. If Cee Cee isn't gravid already, she will be! You'll have your eastern baby yet.

[Stefan-A]

I think what we have here is a zebra, by which I mean a Tropidoclonion lineatum. A very annoyed one, too.

[guidofatherof5]

I think what we have here is a zebra, by which I mean a Tropidoclonion lineatum. A very annoyed one, too.

Tropidoclonion - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[ssssnakeluvr]

that was my first thought too...waiting to find out where it is from

[chris-uk]

With IDs of wild snakes from photos it's all about the location, location, location...
Unless it's something obvious (ie unique looking) without knowing where the photo was taken makes all attempts to identify the mystery snake educated stabs in the dark.