Garter in the yard!

[MelissaFlipski]

My husband took this picture of a garter in our yard in August 2007. Just thought I would share. Cute little guy. I think he's an Eastern Garter Snake.

[Classicrocker42o]

Was he red on the bottom or that the picture?

All the ones I ever see and know of have a greenish belly.

[MelissaFlipski]

We didn't get a look at his belly. His sides were brown with a slight reddish hue. Could be the lighting somewhat, too.

[bonheki]

he kinda looks like a king snake but nice pic

[Ringo]

Thats a nice picture. Did you know that garter snakes are slightly venomous. Not enough to be considered what we call a venomous snake. If you play with one long enough and it bites you enough then you can start to feel the effects of it. Actually there was a professor that did research that suggests that there are technically no nonvenomous snake species. He proposed that all snakes are venomous but that they vary on the degree. This idea comes from the fact that venom is really nothing more than digestive enzymes that have "evolved" for the feeding process. This is just an interesting fact that I learned in one of my college biology classes that I thought you guys and gals might be interested in.

[Classicrocker42o]

I found one in a water fountain where it squirts up water, and it's surrounded by water for the most part.

Well I ended up taking it out and it struck me twice after a minute of handling it. The little s.o.b. drew a little amount of blood on each bite.

[MelissaFlipski]

Well I ended up taking it out and it struck me twice after a minute of handling it. The little s.o.b. drew a little amount of blood on each bite.

Ouch! I haven't had the courage to handle any wild herps yet. But I plan to!

Thats a nice picture. Did you know that garter snakes are slightly venomous. Not enough to be considered what we call a venomous snake. If you play with one long enough and it bites you enough then you can start to feel the effects of it. Actually there was a professor that did research that suggests that there are technically no nonvenomous snake species. He proposed that all snakes are venomous but that they vary on the degree. This idea comes from the fact that venom is really nothing more than digestive enzymes that have "evolved" for the feeding process. This is just an interesting fact that I learned in one of my college biology classes that I thought you guys and gals might be interested in.

Interesting theory. But also "venomous" snakes have venom glands. I guess he argues that salivary glands could be the same thing? I think venom delivery method might be a sticking point - saliva on the teeth vs. venom coming from inside the tooth or a tooth canal/ridge.

he kinda looks like a king snake but nice pic

Hmmm... I don't know much about wild snakes in our area except for the black rat snakes. Maybe I'll research it more. What do you think?

[hoo-t]

Looks like a garter to me. This post is funny, though, because it reminded me that the same day that I caught the big rat snake at my uncle's cabin (mentioned in your other thread), I caught a garter snake, too!

Steve

[MelissaFlipski]

Looks like a garter to me. This post is funny, though, because it reminded me that the same day that I caught the big rat snake at my uncle's cabin (mentioned in your other thread), I caught a garter snake, too!
Steve

I wish it were spring so I could go searching around our wood piles! What luck to see two in one day.

Yes, it's definitely an Eastern Garter.

[Street Killer]

Ouch! I haven't had the courage to handle any wild herps yet. But I plan to!

well don't bother with garter snakes, they'll musk all over you. hahaha. nice pic.