A nice specimen about 20 inches long is first snake sighting of the year, which is surprising so far into warm-weather season considering the local rodent population explosion going on. I would say with confidence that this is some species of garter snake if it had a pronounced stripe along the middle of its back. Without that stripe, I'm not so sure and didn't want to disturb it for closer examination. It was panting heavily, possibly a sign of respiratory distress.
If it had exhibited a large lump somewhere along its upper half I would have guessed it might be panting after swallowing a recent catch. Regardless, it deserved living on in peace.
