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View Full Version : Found this guy in my backyard. Is he a garter snake? If not what is it


mavsfan1997
03-19-2012, 07:32 PM
http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/418558_386611128017357_100000054188189_1483347_845 798211_n.jpg
infernalis
03-19-2012, 10:08 PM
Welcome aboard, that looks like a Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis, the "common" eastern garter snake.
Light of Dae
03-19-2012, 10:55 PM
by the size n thickness I'd say a gravid(pregnant) female :)
katach
03-19-2012, 11:19 PM
by the size n thickness I'd say a gravid(pregnant) female :)
That's what I was thinking.
kueluck
03-20-2012, 05:32 AM
Oh....... come on now.........that's just not fair *sign*. But yeah for mavsfan1997!!
guidofatherof5
03-20-2012, 05:59 AM
Nice to have you on the forum. Good looking stubby tail Eastern.
Some of that gravid look might just be defensive posture.
Here's a link to the forum care sheet. Feel free to post any questions that it doesn't answer.
Garter Snake Forum - Garter Caresheet (http://www.thamnophis.com/index.php?page=caresheet)
EasternGirl
03-20-2012, 06:22 AM
Oh this is just ridiculous now! Everyone is finding snakes except for me...and now people are finding easterns! Nice find. Please take good care of her. Welcome to the forum!
mavsfan1997
03-20-2012, 06:44 AM
so will she bite and if she is pregnant what do i do with the babies... How many babies do they have. Isnt it like somewhere around 40?
ssssnakeluvr
03-20-2012, 07:08 AM
what area was this snake found in?
InsanePirateDragon
03-20-2012, 07:40 AM
Oh this is just ridiculous now! Everyone is finding snakes except for me...and now people are finding easterns! Nice find. Please take good care of her. Welcome to the forum!

Don't feel so bad, I haven't come across any snakes either, just snake sized nightcrawlers.

But welcome to the forums.
EasternGirl
03-20-2012, 07:53 AM
We have people coming on here finding snakes that don't even want to find snakes at this point...geez...I would give anything to find some easterns in my yard! Where are all the snakies around here?? "Hey all you easterns! Come to my yard! All are welcome in Marnie's yard! I will feed you...." :D
BUSHSNAKE
03-20-2012, 09:11 AM
Thats not a sirtalis...looks like brachystoma to me,,where was this snake found?
EasternGirl
03-20-2012, 10:33 AM
Thank you Joe...I was going to say it didn't look like an eastern but I have been wrong about that lately so I kept my mouth shut! Easterns apparently look different farther north from here...and it's hard to tell in pics.
kueluck
03-20-2012, 10:56 AM
Well at least you ALREADY have one
Oh this is just ridiculous now! Everyone is finding snakes except for me...and now people are finding easterns! Nice find. Please take good care of her. Welcome to the forum!
Selkielass
03-20-2012, 11:12 AM
Thamnophis brachystoma (Short-headed Gartersnake, Shorthead Garter Snake) (http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/63971/0) Might be a Short headed Garter snake, could also be a Butlers garter- Its lateral stripes are pretty distinct, but they may not be centered on the third row of side scales.

If it's a Butler, it looks VERY fat or gravid to me, though it fits the description I have read in some early papers that describe Butlers as a small stocky snake tapering rapidly at head and tail like a cigar. Could be regional variation.
EasternGirl
03-20-2012, 12:51 PM
Well at least you ALREADY have one This is true. Hang in there...my eastern female and male are canoodling everyday. If Cee Cee isn't gravid already, she will be! You'll have your eastern baby yet.
Stefan-A
03-20-2012, 03:51 PM
I think what we have here is a zebra, by which I mean a Tropidoclonion lineatum. A very annoyed one, too.
guidofatherof5
03-20-2012, 04:47 PM
I think what we have here is a zebra, by which I mean a Tropidoclonion lineatum. A very annoyed one, too.

Tropidoclonion - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropidoclonion)
ssssnakeluvr
03-20-2012, 05:02 PM
that was my first thought too...waiting to find out where it is from
chris-uk
03-20-2012, 05:28 PM
With IDs of wild snakes from photos it's all about the location, location, location...
Unless it's something obvious (ie unique looking) without knowing where the photo was taken makes all attempts to identify the mystery snake educated stabs in the dark. :)
mavsfan1997
03-20-2012, 05:42 PM
With IDs of wild snakes from photos it's all about the location, location, location...
Unless it's something obvious (ie unique looking) without knowing where the photo was taken makes all attempts to identify the mystery snake educated stabs in the dark. :)

i live in the dallas texas area... about 20 miles south. And will it bite because im scared to pick it up.
ssssnakeluvr
03-20-2012, 09:44 PM
I have to agree with Stefan on this one... look at the link Steve posted, the lined snake.... lives in Texas, has the dark along the side stripe.. They are small snakes that eat mainly worms.... no need to be afraid, wouldn't do much if it did bite. but it probably wouldn't bite either.
katach
03-20-2012, 10:40 PM
That is a very cool snake! Were you looking at trying to keep it?
mavsfan1997
03-21-2012, 05:17 AM
That is a very cool snake! Were you looking at trying to keep it?

Yes I want to. But when I found him I kind of ran over her with the mower. It didnt do any damage to the body. I think it might have nicked her in the mouth because it looks irregular and I cant see her scales there. Would it heal normally?
kibakiba
03-21-2012, 05:18 AM
The scales won't ever come back, but it'll scar over.
mavsfan1997
03-21-2012, 05:39 AM
The scales won't ever come back, but it'll scar over.

Ok thanks. I think that might be why it was in that defensive position.

But I might have a new solution. She is shedding at the moment and the shedded skin is around her neck only now. Maybe thats why her head looks weird.
guidofatherof5
03-21-2012, 05:43 AM
Make sure she has access to water she can get in.
mavsfan1997
03-21-2012, 05:52 AM
Tropidoclonion - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropidoclonion)

I think you are right. I know i keep asking but this type of snake wont bite will it?
EasternGirl
03-21-2012, 06:19 AM
Stefan...good call! Nice...Looks exactly like the pic in the link Steve posted. Mavsfan, from what I have read, these snakes feed on earthworms...they are very secretive...come out at night...are very nonaggressive...if it were to bite it would not do any damage. In other words, it is unlikely that it will bite you, but it is a snake...all snakes bite from time to time...even garters...but it is non-venomous and will not harm you. They are found in Texas. You may want to check laws there because it is illegal to own them in Iowa and some other states, I do not know about Texas. If you do find out that it is illegal to own them, though, at least take care of her until her wounds heal from her injuries.
mavsfan1997
03-21-2012, 02:57 PM
Stefan...good call! Nice...Looks exactly like the pic in the link Steve posted. Mavsfan, from what I have read, these snakes feed on earthworms...they are very secretive...come out at night...are very nonaggressive...if it were to bite it would not do any damage. In other words, it is unlikely that it will bite you, but it is a snake...all snakes bite from time to time...even garters...but it is non-venomous and will not harm you. They are found in Texas. You may want to check laws there because it is illegal to own them in Iowa and some other states, I do not know about Texas. If you do find out that it is illegal to own them, though, at least take care of her until her wounds heal from her injuries.

thanks for helping me out. Im kinda a newbie haha. but thanks for everything :)
EasternGirl
03-21-2012, 03:12 PM
No problem at all...that's what we're here for! If you have any other questions...just ask. :)