Plains Garter Snake
This plains garter snake was spotted soaking up the sun at Windom Wetland Management District in Minnesota. Snakes have to keep warm to stay active in the fall, so they're able to hunt and bulk up before winter hibernation. This one is a young of the year, and only about total size of a pencil, but thought he was much bigger! Garter snakes are non-venomous and not a danger to people.
Photo by Scott Ralston/USFWS. Original public domain image from Flickr