Here is a Western Ribbon Snake (Thamnophis Sauturis Proximus) that I caught in the front yard this afternoon while my son and I were walking back from fishing in our pond. This is the first Thamnophis we have seen since we have been living on this proerty (6 years). The town where I live used to be nothing but Tung Tree farms. Tung trees were used to make Tung Oil. Supposedly snakes don't like Tung trees, and for many years a snake could not be found anywhere in this area. We do have one Tung tree on our 7 acres. Even in the short period of time that we have been here, I have seen the native snake population grow. At least that is my assumption from the increasing number of wild snakes that we see every from year to year. Here is the pic.