Thamnophis butleri: Butler's Gartersnake

Description:

Small adult from southeastern Michigan.This species is known from the northern 1/3-1/2 of Indiana, but records have always been extremely localized. To my knowledge, no documented records have been made since the 70s. This is likely due both to its similarity in appearance to other Thamnophis and the widespread destruction of the wetlands it prefers. Indiana is one of the nation's leaders in wetland destruction over the past hundred years.