what kind of rodents to garter snakes eat?

[Dr. Pepper]

Hi, I don't have snakes in my care other than what is in my yard. I have been searching the web for information on the snakes because we seemed to have aquired quite a few as of late. I don't mind them, But I wanted to know if they eat moles. My yard is mole infested and have been capturing them left and right. Just noticed the other day that there are snake holes in the garden and wanted to know if they eat moles.

[Lee]

I'm sure its possible they can indeed eat them.. I don't see a problem with it.

[adamanteus]

Hi Melanie, welcome to the forum. No, I'm afraid Garters don't regularly eat moles. It is aguable whether or not most Garter species eat rodents (which moles aren't) in the wild at all. Certainly one or two species will feed opportunistically on rodents, but this is the exception rather than the rule. It is undoubtably a good idea to encourage Garters into your garden, but they aren't going to help you with your mole problem.

[drache]

I would assume that any snake large enough to eat a rat, would also eat another small mammal such as a mole
garter snakes aren't large enough
if you wanted snakes to take care of the moles, you'd need corn snakes or rat snakes or something like that

[KITKAT]

Ahhh... but I HAVE read somewhere that garters use mole tunnels for travel and resting.

Moles eat grubs and earthworms.

Garters eat earthworms.

Therefore, garters compete with moles on some level and might deplete some of the food supply that attracts the moles.

[Lee]

Garters could also eat the young moles ... I know my female can pound down rat pups so I wouldn't be suprised if they could at least eat young.

[Stefan-A]

Ahhh... but I HAVE read somewhere that garters use mole tunnels for travel and resting.

Moles eat grubs and earthworms.

Garters eat earthworms.

Therefore, garters compete with moles on some level and might deplete some of the food supply that attracts the moles.
Excellent point. But I don't think garters can necessarily compete with a species that thoroughly specialized in earthworms, I find it more likely that they would switch to an alternative food source instead of trying to compete.

[Dr. Pepper]

Well thank you all for your answers to my question. I don't mind the snakes, the kids a facinated with them. They are not harming us in any way. Little annoying with the holes, but no matter compared to the mole holes.