Any idea what it is?

[metanomi]

I'm in Macoupin County Illinois (central southern Illinois, rural, specifically directly on Otter Lake).

Any idea what this is? It's about a foot long (found dead in front yard). Hoping not a venomous water moccasin (another similar looking guy about 5 or 6 feet long, less apparently patterned, wrist thick, came and enjoyed our deck the other day):

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/12792682/snake-front-yard.jpg

[Andy_G]

A very dead rat snake...they're totally harmless

[Albert Clark]

I don't think its a water moccasin but it does favor the Plains ratsnake. NON- venomous. Good at keeping the rodent population down.