The Common Garter Snake
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| Garter Snake |
They rarely bite.
In fact, if captured, they are very likely to squirt a bad-smelling fluid on you.
In fact, if captured, they are very likely to squirt a bad-smelling fluid on you.
And, as far as snakes go, they are quite shy.
They run when they see possible threats.
They were rather hard to even take a picture of.
A garter snake's primary prey are earthworms and amphibians.
Animals that eat garter snakes include hawks, crows, snapping turtles, large fish (such as bass and catfish), cats, dogs, and even bullfrogs.
The humble garter snake is even the Massachusetts's state reptile, thanks to former MA governor Mitt Romney and the efforts of a couple young boys.
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| shed garter snake skin |
...who would probably be very upset to learn that at least three of them are living in her yard.
shhhhh....
I won't tell her ...
ReplyDelete:) Hoping she doesn't see the fresh new large snakeskin near her rock wall... I should go throw that somewhere else..
DeleteOh my...I understand your mother-in-law! I find snakes fascinating, but not close up. ;-) I didn't realize bullfrogs eat garter snakes. Great post and title!
ReplyDeleteI was pretty impressed with those bullfrogs, too! That's one tough frog!
DeleteWhat a cutie! Great captures of this creature!
ReplyDeleteThanks! There's a couple fairly large ones I've seen around, as well as a little baby garter snake I've seen. The baby was actually fairly cute (from a distance)!
DeleteIsn't it funny how different people have different reactions to creatures? Bugs gross me out, but snakes don't bother me. Especially not nice ones like garter snakes.
ReplyDeleteI'm okay with bugs outside, but for some reason if they get in the house they freak me out. As long as all the creatures stay where they belong, all is good!
DeleteYour secret's safe with me; although I do wonder what your mother-in-law thinks of your newly-discovered interest in photographing lawns. Ahem.
ReplyDeleteWhat lush looking grass you have, dear mother-in-law.. ;)
DeleteA good daughter-in-law would adopt those snakes and move them to her house.
ReplyDeleteHaha, I guess I'm not that good of a daughter-in-law then.. I'm perfectly willing to take pictures of them from a good distance away, not so much to touch them!
DeleteOh how funny...my neighbor won't visit since she knows our pond draws them in all the time and we love them.
ReplyDeleteSince they aren't poisonous, it doesn't bother me. If they were closer to the house, on the other hand, or if they slithered towards me instead of away, then we might have a problem!
DeleteI do hope my daughters-in-law aren't keeping a secret like this from me:) If I thought there were snakes in my garden, I'd never get out there and weed! I've come to accept a lot of creatures I used to find creepy or scary, but snakes still send shivers down my spine.
ReplyDeleteI never thought of spooking a snake while weeding until now. That is a rather scary thought! Thankfully these snakes don't like to come close!
DeleteToo funny!
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked :)
DeleteMy mother-in-law would have the same reaction! I like garter snakes, but they do startle me when I catch the sudden movement out of the corner of my eye. I saw a baby one, only about 6 inches long, in my back flowerbed a few days ago. It's the first one I've seen here, and it was gone too fast to even run for the camera. Now that I know it's around, however, I'll be looking for it!
ReplyDeleteOne of the snakes liked to sun itself at the same spot everyday, which helped in getting pictures of it. I haven't seen it lately - maybe it's tired of getting its picture taken!
DeleteHaha....I studied all your photos cautiously! we have no snakes here because St. Patrick banished them......think he missed a few of the human kind though:~)
ReplyDeleteSadly, those are some of worst kind. It would be nice to get someone to banish that sort!
DeleteBetter her yard than yours although I'm sure she's a fine woman. I recognize the green snakes as harmless but I woulda prolly chopped this one to bits not knowing it was a garter snake.
ReplyDeleteThey're pretty fast for little snakes. I'm not sure if I could even catch one if I wanted to!
DeleteAh! you are a torment but I will keep stum, . No snakes in the grass around here.
ReplyDeleteAround here most of the snakes in the garden are harmless if you don't fool around with them. They still make me shriek when they surprise me. That sends them slithering away fast! I don't know who is scared most, but we both get our stress test for the day!
ReplyDelete