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Help identifying a snake?

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From: Craig Huegen
City: Bartelso, IL
Hi there, I need help identifying a snake that was found in my swimming pool. I live in Clinton County, 45 miles east of St. Louis. Here's the pic: http://gallery.pentics.com/v/homepics/newfamily/IMG_1657.JPG.html It was about 2 feet long. Can you help identify or point me to some resources? I looked over the gallery on the IDNR site, but didn't find a close match. The closest appeared to be the eastern massasauga juvenile, but it didn't appear to have any rattle forming. Any help?

 
Extension Message
From: Laura Kammin
Visiting Extension Specialist, Pollution Prevention
Extension-Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant College Program
lkammin@illinois.edu
This looks like a northern water snake to me. You can find more information about them at the Illinois Natural History Survey's website: http://www.inhs.illinois.edu/animals_plants/herps/species/ne_sipedon.html

These snakes are highly variable in their coloration, but the pattern of marking and the "habitat" would indicate a northern water snake. The massasauga is only found in a handful of locations around the state and is endangered in Illinois.

 
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