Quote Originally Posted by ObsidianDragon View Post
Gah! I need to go out garter hunting, but I'm not sure if Chicago garters are this far north or not. I'm up closer to Wisconsin.

I actually say it's hard to ID that one--it seems to lack distinct striping, and the breaking up of the side stripe is how i ID Chicago garters. The guy's thumb would be in the way though, too.

Crazy! ...I want it.
I do believe the Chicago garters range goes into Wisconsin a little bit and also into Indiana. I go all the way out to the Mississippi river to find something that I wouldn't call a Chicago garter, ive seen Chicago garters as far west as ogle county. in populations of Chicago garters you do find some that don't have the bars at all and some are heavily barred but I wouldn't call the non barred ones sirtalis sirtalis...theyre semifasciatus so local is more of an indicator of subspecies