Thamnophis proximus Western Ribbonsnake
Subspecies I've seen:
T. p. proximus
Orange-striped Ribbonsnake
Thamnophis proximus proximus Orange-striped Ribbonsnake
Snake Road, La Rue-Pine Hills Ecological Area, Union County, IllinoisApril 23, 2008
Orange-striped Ribbonsnake (Thamnophis proximus proximus) Orange-striped Ribbonsnake (Thamnophis proximus proximus)
Ribbonsnakes are typically found in or near water, often prowling about for a tasty fish or frog meal. I had seen quite a few other snakes including aquatic ones such as cottonmouths and watersnakes earlier in the morning before I came across these two, so it seems that the ribbonsnakes are late risers.
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