Identify snake in Ohio backyard?

It most likely is a garter snake. This winter was fairly mild as far as this area goes (I'm right next door in PA), but then snakes survive the winter all the time. I wouldn't be too terribly concerned about them being in the shed, they'll keep all the nasty things down. The only way to really discourage snakes from being around your house is to kill off all the mice, rats, voles, moles, birds, and bugs. Which is nearly impossible. Snakes keep the pest population down, and really don't do any damage. Garter snakes aren't going to hurt you, even if they do bite you. There are only 3 native venomous snakes in ohio, and 2 of those rattle.

http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/wildlife/Home/resources...

Pictures of your venomous snakes.

I've encountered all 3 of those in the wild in PA (our venomous 3 are the same as ohio) and they weren't in very populated areas. I grew up in the middle of the woods, and knew people only a few miles away in developments that had never seen any of the 3 in the wild.

I'd recommend looking at the pictures with your son, and making a game plan for what to do if he does see them if you're worried. They aren't instant death snakes to someone with a healthy immune system.

Any other snake you or your son might get bit by is going to be way less of an injury than your average house cat inflicts. I've been bitten by my pet corn snake who's 5 1/2 feet long, and not had any blood drawn. It looked like I bumped my hand up against a rock.

Hope that eases your fears, they really are helpful animals to have around, like I said, they reduce the mouse population.

Snakes Of Ohio

This Site Might Help You.

RE:

Identify snake in Ohio backyard?

Teenage son was running leaf-vacuum near the shed in the back yard, and scared up several (5 or 6) slender brown snakes with vivid yellow stripes down their bodies. We are thinking garter snakes. Confirm, please?

Where would they have wintered? Should I worry about finding them (or other more...

Check out this site, pretty cool for identifying snakes. Is this your snake?

http://www.kentuckysnakes.org/snake_details.cfm?sn...

If so, let the kids play with them, no harm.

Might also check out this page about Ohio snakes

http://www.oplin.org/snake/fact%20pages/garter_sna...

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Sounds like a Northern Ringneck Snake. =) Too bad you killed him though. They're pretty neat looking. =(

sounds like a ribbon snake or stripped garter snake they are great pets