Last year I found a black snake, about two-feet in length at Ottawa NWR. It had a whitish chin and keeled scales. It looked nothing like the black rats I was familiar with, so I figured it might be a black racer (which probably don't even occur in Ottawa NWR...maybe blue racers though). But racers have smooth scales, so I ended up settling with "young black rat snake" as my ID. Now I know I was wrong! And according to Tennant, melanistic garters are often found by enthusiasts seeking fox snakes in Ohio's Ottawa and Erie Cos.

I too am a birder, and have been debated going up to Magee/Crane Creek tomorrow, but so far I'm still leaning towards the Oak Openings. I really want to find Hognose, Ribbons, Butler's, Blue Racers, etc...and I think the birding there would be good as well.

Nice pic of the melanistic garter and the magnolia warbler, BTW.

And yes, I'm Mike "The Miz" Mizanin's nerdy little cousin.

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