Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Maybe it's just dirty but I have never seen a Garter like this It might be Thamnophis butleri, not sure though.

Thats an interesting snake! Where did you find it (just in general, not specifically!) I don't think its a Butlers, for one thing its head is too distinct from its neck.

Just curious, why did you write your name across the picture?

Joe
http://www.herpnet.net
Reptiles and Amphibians of Iowa and Minnesota

I found the snake under a deflated inner-tube with a DeKay's snake and a five-lined skink. It was found near Urbana, Ohio.
I write my name on any media I post on the internet, an old "force-of-habit" I guess. I have seen my pictures turn up on other people's websites without permission, hence the precautionary measure of assigning the label.
Cheers.

I'm pretty sure it's an Eastern garter. It doesn't look anything like a Butler's garter. I was in Ohio a few weeks ago, and saw Easterns and Butler's. The Easterns have an amazing range of colors and patterns. I'll show some pics later.

In Michigan I sometimes find them with no dorsal stripe, almost melanistic. Along L. Erie there are melanistic garters and almost any variation inbetween. Hope this helps.

TC