ID please

[Wyldrose]

We found this guy along the Wapiti river just south of Grande Prairie Alberta, Canada. I have lived here my entire life and we always catch the wandering(Thamnophis elegans vagrans) garters here never anything like this!

[Saji]

Looks like a red sided garter. I only keep Plains Garters. I'm probably wrong. Someone will chime in.

[rickymar81]

It is a red sided. I just got a pair about a month ago. looks like a male to me. nice looking snake

[joeysgreen]

Definitely a red sided gartersnake, Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis. I'm in Edmonton and worked with the species all spring :) It's funny how you normally find elegans. I think of them as a southern species when they are really a western one.

Ian

[chris-uk]

Very nice Red-sided Garter.

[Wyldrose]

Thanks guys! He is a really neat little guy! Ate a fuzzy mouse today. My other wc from last year is finally eating mice now to.

[guidofatherof5]

I don't feed any fur to my garters. Lost a couple adults to fur impaction. Pinkies only for me.

[joeysgreen]

Wyldrose, garters are now protected in Alberta due to their declines. It's best to return it to the wild if it hasn't been exposed to other herp's yet. The only native species that can be kept as pets are the boreal chorus frog, the wood frog, and the tiger salamander.

Steve, pinkies can lack calcium. I'm sure you know to vary the prey and feed pinkies with milk filled bellies.

[guidofatherof5]

I don't feed any fur to my garters. Lost a couple adults to fur impaction. Pinkies only for me.


Wyldrose, garters are now protected in Alberta due to their declines. It's best to return it to the wild if it hasn't been exposed to other herp's yet. The only native species that can be kept as pets are the boreal chorus frog, the wood frog, and the tiger salamander.

Steve, pinkies can lack calcium. I'm sure you know to vary the prey and feed pinkies with milk filled bellies.

Should have clarified myself. When I feed mice as part of a varied diet I use only pinkies.

[slipknot711]

i think he means there bones arent developed and dont have as much calcium in them.... so i read...

[Wyldrose]

Stripes went back home into the wild where he belongs :) He was happy to be free!

[guidofatherof5]

Nice job. Well down.

[slipknot711]

very cute! i love when kids are educated on animals especially snakes!

[Wyldrose]

Annika, my 9 yr old daughter caught him, so it was fitting that she let him go :) She was sad to see him go but we have plenty of pets at home for her to love!

[slipknot711]

plenty of pets like me!!!!! but herping is great for kids, i know i love it and my boyrfriends two kids love hiking

[guidofatherof5]

Annika, my 9 yr old daughter caught him, so it was fitting that she let him go :) She was sad to see him go but we have plenty of pets at home for her to love!

Good job Annika. Thanks for helping that snake.

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//744/Clapping.gif

[Saji]

Nature 1