I think it is a Pine Snake, non-poisonous, but let me look in my book and double check. I'll get right back to you.

~Annie

Eeeek!
It could be a Pigmy Rattlesnake...the coloring and pattern are so unusual. Only thing, the tail is so light colored and Pigmy rattlesnakes usually have dark tips on their tail.

Pine Snakes can climb trees and get after birds, eggs and young baby birds - one reason why I thought it could be a Pine snake.

I am just not sure.
Sorry.

Treat all snakes with caution, though. Even if they are not poisonous, their bites are very nasty and you can get horrific infections from them.

Hope someone else can tell you what it is. I want to know, too!

~Annie

I thought Pigmy Rattlesnake at first. I looked it up earlier today, but wasn't sure since I can't see the head or tail very well. I hope it's just a Pine Snake.

Cameron

It's an Eastern Garter Snake. The head is not as diamond-shaped as the Pigmy Rattler.

The band of dark coloration around the neck is one distinguishing mark, and the checkered pattern is another. This snake has a whole range of coloration, sometimes with lines and sometimes more checkered, which makes it very hard to ID.

It looks like it got the worst of the encounter with the thrasher.

Renee

That checkered pattern threw me, for sure. Never saw anything like that. Yeah, the head is not diamond shaped and the tail is not dark, so I decided it wasn't a Pigmy Rattler.

I never saw a Garter snake with any pattern other than stripes. Cool looking.

Thanks Renee!
~Annie

All I've ever seen in the yard are garter snakes and if that's what this is it'd be the first with that checkered pattern. Thanks for the help!