Juvenile Western Rat Snake

 

I walked out my front door to find this guy on my front porch.  So of course I ran back in and got my camera.  I knew by the eyes that he was not poisonous, so I wasn't afraid.

I know he looks bigger, but he was only about 14" long.

He had a striking pattern, and I thought he was one I hadn't seen before.

Or had I?

It turns out that he is "just" a black snack.

A young one, that still shows off his gorgeous gray and black pattern.

In another year or two he will be completely black.