no photo — written note
Animals
A prairie gartersnake with a vivid orange or yellow back stripe and black bars along the lip scales.
Field facts
HabitatPrairie remnants, wet meadows, ditches
RangeNorthwestern and central Indiana
When to lookMarch to October
StatusLeast Concern (Indiana DNR / IUCN Red List)
Look-alikesCommon Gartersnake
Field note: It often overwinters in crayfish burrows in prairie soil.
Lesson
Watching responsibly
Watch from a step back; crowding a snake forces it to flee cover.
Your records
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