no photo — written note
Animals
A handsome snake with red-brown saddles edged in black on grey, and a checkerboard belly. Harmless and often found in barns.
Field facts
HabitatBarns, rocky woodland, old fields
RangeStatewide
When to lookApril to October
StatusLeast Concern (Indiana DNR / IUCN Red List)
Look-alikesCopperhead — hourglass bands, no checkerboard belly
Field note: The old story that it milks cows is entirely false; it hunts mice in barns.
Lesson
Watching responsibly
Common victim of mistaken identity; learn it and let it live.
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