I've been playing with an idea to start a project to produce some captive bred garter snakes of the local species (Puget Sound garters, Northwestern garters). I don't care about making money, the sole purpose is curiosity and having specimens of the species that started my interests in reptiles at a very early age (I remember catching those things everywhere!). I want CBB but haven't been able to find breeders of these guys, so hey, why not try myself? If anyone knows of a breeder that produces these I'd love to get in touch.

Currently I'm working on finding out the legal side of it. Contacted the local herp society and scanned through a headache's worth of state legislature. I haven't found anything clearly stating that it's illegal to keep them/catch them, but until I get a clear answer I'm simply doing research. Hopefully when the herp society gets back to me they'll be able to shed some light on it.

My main concern is that if this project does happen that I'll be dealing with wild caught individuals who probably won't be terribly happy about the whole situation. I've been reading on garter care in general and the diet in particular seems challenging, even more so with an animal not accustomed to someone having to give it food. Does anyone have some experience with garters and have some tips for a total newbie? I figure to protect my collection I'll also have to take the animals in to the vet for parasite treatment and whatever other issues may arise (no such thing as a free snake ).

As I said, I'm not going to go forward with this until I know I'm covered legally, but I'd very much appreciate advice on dealing with wild caught animals and garter snakes in general.