Found him outside in the driveway about 15 minutes ago, keeping in a small tank right now until I release him tomorrow. He looks like a garter snake but with a -really- pale pattern, and an orange belly. Anyone know what this is and if it's a color morph?
Agree, redbelly snake. Besides the red belly, the three pale spots across the nape of the neck are a good ID character. Otherwise the pattern is similar to some other small woodland snakes, like earth snakes and DeKay's snakes.
Redbellies have several color morphs- the belly is always red, but the back may be gray, dark brown, or various shades of light brown as in your guy.
After consulting my Peterson Field Guide for the Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern/Central North America, I am going to say that it is a redbelly snake (Storeria occipitomaculata).
That honestly looks nothing like a milksnake.... I caught an eastern milksnake before(lampropeltis t. triangulum) and even if I didn't it still doesn't resemble a milk snake
