Yo, I found this snake....

Anyone know what kind it is? I've never seen anything other than a garter snake around these parts. This guy was just hanging out right outside my back door.

Click for the big version.

This little guy is slightly skinnier than my pinky, but I didn't want to hold it up to it, lest the snake turn around and bite the shit out of me.

I just went and got it because it was cool-looking, thinking there were no such things as poisonous snakes around here, but it turns out there are a few.

If anyone can identify this thing, or needs more info, that would be awesome. This is in northern Illinois by the way...