Garter Snake

[Kaa2448]

Hey ive had this female garter snake that i found for about 5 months and she eats well and is very healthy looking she even had a clutch of about 14 babys back in August. I was just considering whether i should let her go after this winter or if i should just continue to keep her in captivity? any feedback is appreciated

[JLC]

Hmmmm.....where are you located, and is it legal to keep native species where you are? What'd you do with all those babies?

[jdmls88]

I would garter snakes are easy and soo cool

[Kaa2448]

long island i released the babys

[Kaa2448]

there was just too many and i didnt really know how to care for the babies

[JLC]

So long as it was a native species and the garter was gonna have her babies in the wild anyhow, I don't see anything wrong with releasing the babies.


I'd just check with your local and state laws to be sure it's not illegal to collect and keep native herps. That is a common law.

[jjspirko]

God do I grow tired of people all worried about "the law" when someone is keeping something like a garter, a corn or a bull snake geez do you really think the cops have the time to be looking for folks keeping a fricken snake while crack dealers and armed robbers are so numberous!

Anyway nothing wrong with keeping her or letting her go either is fine they are so common it won't matter either way but ya deffinitely keep her through the winter. Also do not be surprised if she stops eating during the winter even if you keep her warm. Quite common for wild caught snakes to stop eating in the first captive winter. Warmth alone does not shut off the biological clock for many, so it if happens don't sweat it.

I have a beautiful wild caught red sided garter about three feet long that has been on adult mice like no tomorrow. He came from Kansas and was caught in July. Just about a week ago he stopped eating. I still offer every other week but don't sweat it when he doesn't eat.

[WTHbbqSnake]

Well I think JLC meant that some species could be endangered in certain states and may be protected. I live in kansas and I know that in some of the surrounding states it's illegal to keep even some species of snakes because they are endangered or threatened there. The law is always good to take into consideration because it's there for a reason. To protect certain species.

Anyway. It is a good idea to let the babies go during the warmer months. I keep and have kept garter snakes and they can get very tame fast. Might be better to keep the adult if thats what you want to do but definitely see if its legal.

[Ginevive]

If you released the babies, and have been keeping the female this long, I see no reason to let her go.