It's taken me a lifetime to actually hold one of each type of snake.

Here's some great photos to show you our *harmless* snakes.

(I don't like Facebook or links back to it, but I saw one that I want to share.
Posted by Pete Freckelton with Jake Scott photography. Credit to each. )

"This is the Northern Redbelly
(Storeria occipitomaculata occipitomaculata)
Adults reach about 1 foot in length. They don't bite, as their mouths & teeth are far to small too use defensively. Their main defence is displaying their red belly as a warning to predators that they may be toxic... but it's mostly a ruse, though some of their digesting prey may be toxic to a small animal that tries to eat it. They're shy, mostly nocturnal, very fast and quick to wriggle free when handled, but absolutely adorable. You'll most often find them in decomposing logs or other places slugs might shelter. In winter, they're particularly fond of denning in cracked foundations so they'll occasionally turn up in basements."