Basement snakes

[count dewclaw]

Thought I would start documenting the snakes I find in my basement, just to see how many I really get.

So far this year I have caught 2 garter snakes and 1 milk snake. I only took pictures of 1 garter snake:

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/springgarter2008.JPG

[mycolorfulheart]

Jealousy! I want this magical basement.

[enigma200316]

nice snake looks like a maritime to me, thanks for sharing...........:)

[count dewclaw]

nice snake looks like a maritime to me, thanks for sharing...........:)

OK, I guess I need some education here...I just thought it was a common eastern...what's the difference?

[enigma200316]

OK, I guess I need some education here...I just thought it was a common eastern...what's the difference?

well they look a lot alike, and some even think they are pretty much the same,but the color and the broken dorsal stripe which is common in maritime is why I said maritime,but thats my opion, and some people here have maritimes and know more they could shed better light, oh and in the caresheet section I think there are discription of both the common Eastern and the maritime...........:)

[count dewclaw]

Jealousy! I want this magical basement.

hahaha, did I mention the drafty old farmhouse that sits on top of the basement, or the mice, rats, and chipmunks that also occassionaly come inside? :eek::D

[enigma200316]

hahaha, did I mention the drafty old farmhouse that sits on top of the basement, or the mice, rats, and chipmunks that also occassionaly come inside? :eek::D




hahahahaha!!!!!!! that sounds more like a baiting area to me.......:D
http://www.thamnophis.com/caresheets/index.php?title=Garter_Snake_Care_Sheet

[count dewclaw]

hahahahaha!!!!!!! that sounds more like a baiting area to me.......:D


That could explain the big milksnakes! :D


well they look a lot alike, and some even think they are pretty much the same,but the color and the broken dorsal stripe which is common in maritime is why I said maritime,but thats my opion, and some people here have maritimes and know more they could shed better light, oh and in the caresheet section I think there are discription of both the common Eastern and the maritime...........:)

I didn't see a description for the maritime, but I'll keep poking around...you've gotten me curious about the differences.

[EdgyExoticReptiles]

i have a pair of maritimes, there are very hard to tell from easterns and if you live in a place where there is both (which i think u do) you might never know for sure if its a maritime, eastern, or hybrid between the two. I have a pic of mine somewhere on my computer i think.. ill post it if i can find it

[EdgyExoticReptiles]

The male maritime, chocolate:
http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee133/reedkamsla/DSC_1350.jpg
http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee133/reedkamsla/DSC_1354.jpg
http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee133/reedkamsla/DSC_1347.jpg
The female maritime, cash:
http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee133/reedkamsla/DSC_1319.jpg

[enigma200316]

i have a pair of maritimes, there are very hard to tell from easterns and if you live in a place where there is both (which i think u do) you might never know for sure if its a maritime, eastern, or hybrid between the two. I have a pic of mine somewhere on my computer i think.. ill post it if i can find it


thanks for the help with this Reed, and whats with the new name...lol

[EdgyExoticReptiles]

http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee133/reedkamsla/DSC_1310.jpg
http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee133/reedkamsla/DSC_1312.jpg

[EdgyExoticReptiles]

lol i wanted to change it from my real name so i changed it to my company name Edgy Exotic Reptiles (http://www.edgyexoticreptiles.com)

thanks for the help with this Reed, and whats with the new name...lol

[enigma200316]

lol i wanted to change it from my real name so i changed it to my company name Edgy Exotic Reptiles (http://www.edgyexoticreptiles.com)


thats kool good luck with that...........;):)

[EdgyExoticReptiles]

did the pictures show up? im at school so they never show up on this computer

thats kool good luck with that...........;):)

[enigma200316]

did the pictures show up? im at school so they never show up on this computer


yes twice...lol, thanks Reed...............:)

[EdgyExoticReptiles]

james since i can not see them can u delete the duplicates

[adamanteus]

james since i can not see them can u delete the duplicates

I would be happy to, Reed... only there are no duplicates... I think Justin's been drinking!;)

[count dewclaw]

Thanks, Reed. Those pictures do help. I suspect what we have around here are intergrades, if maritimes at all. We seem to have a variety of patterns from very clear stripes to faint stripes with varying degrees of spots.

[Snake lover 3-25]

Thanks, Reed. Those pictures do help. I suspect what we have around here are intergrades, if maritimes at all. We seem to have a variety of patterns from very clear stripes to faint stripes with varying degrees of spots.

us too!!! I think maybe when i found my garter she had mated with a maritime because a couple of the babies looked just like those!!! :)

[drache]

LeAnn
I think you must not live very far (it's all relative) from Terry (stonyloam)
somebody may have turned you on to this thread already, but if they haven't, you might find that some of Terry's visitors resemble yours
http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/general-talk/578-baiting-snakes.html

[count dewclaw]

LeAnn
I think you must not live very far (it's all relative) from Terry (stonyloam)
somebody may have turned you on to this thread already, but if they haven't, you might find that some of Terry's visitors resemble yours
http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/general-talk/578-baiting-snakes.html

I'm about 1.5 hours (I think) driving time from Terry.

Thanks for the link to that thread. Now I'll have to spend some time reading through the whole thing :D.

[enigma200316]

I would be happy to, Reed... only there are no duplicates... I think Justin's been drinking!;)


that is very much so possible James...............:rolleyes:;):D

[count dewclaw]

Caught this little "guy" in the house today. Somehow this one managed to get to the first floor instead of the basement. That brings the total so far this year to 3 garters and 1 milk snake.


http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/tinygarter.JPG

[anji1971]

He's pretty.........I really like the colouring on that one!:)

[drache]

ooohhh
I love that last one
what an amazing colour

[Lori P]

Oh, me too--- love that color!!! Beautiful!!

[Sid]

Very nice one, LeAnn. Great photo

[count dewclaw]

Thanks, we do have some pretty snakes around here. I'm having fun learning how to use our new(ish) digital camera.

[count dewclaw]

Well, here is a photo of my "magic" basement "spawning" a milksnake! :D

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/milksnake2.JPG

So, we are up to 3 garters and 2 milksnakes so far (that I have found).

[Stefan-A]

I wish I had your magic basement. :D Or at least that milksnake. ;)

[adamanteus]

I wonder if they brumate within the stone wall.

[count dewclaw]

I suppose it is possible. I always just thought they explored in all the little tunnels around the foundation. I know that they brumate in an old unused shallow well next to the house (well at least the garters).

[anji1971]

That is so cool!! They just crawl right out of the rock..........:cool:
I know it has it's disadvantages, but I still wish I had a magic basement!!

[count dewclaw]

That is so cool!! They just crawl right out of the rock..........:cool:

Well, from between the rocks where the crumbling/disappearing mortar should be. I'm just glad there are no venomous snakes in our area!:eek:

[Snake lover 3-25]

lol i have a basement but it's not magic:(:(:(:(:( i can't find where the snakes in my yard brumate:(

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

My old house's basement was "magic"... it spawned SO many spiders...

[Snake lover 3-25]

mine too spiders and mice!!!!!!!! LOLOL

[count dewclaw]

If you take a close look at the photo you can see the evidence of the spiders that my basement also spawns! :D:eek:

[count dewclaw]

Well, it's time for the snakes to start looking for their winter hidey spots. These two were looking in the wrong place...

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/fallgarter1.JPG

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/fallmilk1.JPG

The milksnake I moved outside (it is still warm enough). The garter I couldn't reach, so I hope it went back outside on its own...I will keep my eyes open in the basement in case it didn't.

[kurtnagel]

So Cool! Even if there were brumating snakes in my immediate area, I would still have to jack-hammer the foundation to create snake holes!

[crzy_kevo]

Well, here is a photo of my "magic" basement "spawning" a milksnake! :D

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data/500/milksnake2.JPG

So, we are up to 3 garters and 2 milksnakes so far (that I have found).

very nice crimson milk leann

[count dewclaw]

Thanks, that one went back outside earlier this year...

[Garter_Gertie]

Oh, man! You lucky dog! I'd give my right arm for snakes in my basement. Particularly an Eastern Milk - that I'm trying to get.

I wish I had a magic basement. I've the basement, but snakes in the area. Poop.

[bsol]

So Cool! Even if there were brumating snakes in my immediate area, I would still have to jack-hammer the foundation to create snake holes!
haha I know right! its seems like when I hit the woods and creeks near my house looking for snakes, any snake, I always come up empty handed.

[count dewclaw]

I wonder if they brumate within the stone wall.

James, I think you may be right...this guy was peeking out at me today. Look how deep that hole goes...

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/milksnake.JPG

[jitami]

LeAnn, I just love your magic basement... I'd never get anything done... would be just sitting around staring at the walls of my basement :D

[Snake lover 3-25]

wow that's really neet....... i agree with tami:D

[Garter_Gertie]

I'd bait'um - the walls... I'd have signs outside, "This way to free food and kisses" with a HUGE arrow...

I ssssoooo want a magic basement!

[drache]

I'd bait'um - the walls... I'd have signs outside, "This way to free food and kisses" with a HUGE arrow...
Gertie
free food and heat - they don't care much for kisses

[Charlet_2007]

Well, it's time for the snakes to start looking for their winter hidey spots. These two were looking in the wrong place...

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/fallgarter1.JPG

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/fallmilk1.JPG

The milksnake I moved outside (it is still warm enough). The garter I couldn't reach, so I hope it went back outside on its own...I will keep my eyes open in the basement in case it didn't.

2nd one looks like a great plains rat snake not saying it is just saying it looks like
it lol.. i have a female of this breed of rat snake that i donated to the zoo here in Springfield..

basically we call them missouri corn snakes here..

here's the info on them..

Snakes of Arkansas: Great Plains Rat Snake (Pantherophis emoryi) (http://www.snakesofarkansas.com/Main/PantherophisEmoryi)

[Charlet_2007]

Well, here is a photo of my "magic" basement "spawning" a milksnake! :D

http://www.thamnophis.com/forum/../../thamphotos/data//500/milksnake2.JPG

So, we are up to 3 garters and 2 milksnakes so far (that I have found).




BEAUTIFUL snake!!!

[count dewclaw]

LeAnn, I just love your magic basement... I'd never get anything done... would be just sitting around staring at the walls of my basement :D

I do tend to wander into that section of the basement more than is strictly "necessary". :rolleyes:


I'd bait'um - the walls... I'd have signs outside, "This way to free food and kisses" with a HUGE arrow...


I'm not sure I want to feed the entire population of snakes in my yard...could become rather expensive...and they are supposed to be wild...


2nd one looks like a great plains rat snake not saying it is just saying it looks like
it lol.. i have a female of this breed of rat snake that i donated to the zoo here in Springfield..

basically we call them missouri corn snakes here..

here's the info on them..

Snakes of Arkansas: Great Plains Rat Snake (Pantherophis emoryi) (http://www.snakesofarkansas.com/Main/PantherophisEmoryi)

They do have similar markings, but those don't live around here.

[kurtnagel]

LeAnn,

Good thing it is your basement. Some of the stories I have heard here recently lead me to believe that these are very lucky snakes.....

[Pinky]

I love it!!!!!That milk snake looks beautiful!!!!We have and old house with stone foundation that has it's share if cracks and holes but NO snakes!!!Even with a small mouse problem snakes don't come around:( I'm sssooooo jealous!!!keep us updated!!!!:)

[reptile3]

Leann do you own an older home? I used to live in Aurora, Illinois we bought our first home, it was built in 1900. The basement looks like yours(in away)

No snakes in this basement here... just dust & spiders!!

Gorgeous snakes by the way!!

[count dewclaw]

Leann do you own an older home? I used to live in Aurora, Illinois we bought our first home, it was built in 1900. The basement looks like yours(in away)


Yes, our house is OLD! The part of the house where I find most of the snakes was built around 1900. The stone foundation in that part is probably 10-12 inches thick. The back part of the house is even older, probably built in the 1850s.

[count dewclaw]

Time to update this thread. I think I have seen these two periodically through the winter, but they have been hanging out in the basement more lately. I have also seen them on the other side of that wall sunning themselves the last couple days.

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/2009springgarters.JPG

[anji1971]

Oh, wow!
LeAnn, I don't know whether I'm more envious of you, or Terry. I want snakes to crawl out of my walls, too!:cool:

[drache]

well, I don't feel it's an either/or thing - I'm envious of you both

[count dewclaw]

My husband keeps talking about re-pointing the basement walls (re-mortaring), but I keep telling him about the other things that need to be fixed first...wonder how long I can keep my snake-friendly basement?

[jitami]

Awesome LeAnn!

[Snake lover 3-25]

very cool! cute:)

[GarterGeek]

Woa, that's simply awesome. You are so lucky! :)
I wish my basement made snakes "magically" appear, currently it only makes them disappear. *sigh*

[count dewclaw]

Had to escort this guy out of my basement yesterday.

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/garter7.JPG

Sorry the photo's a bit blurry. He must have developed a taste for "dust bunnies" - note the fuzz stuck to his face....

[k2l3d4]

Dude.... I so want your house/ basement.... That is so AWESOME! I love the light color of your garters that are borrowing your basement from you.

[Snake lover 3-25]

lol neat find!:D

[drache]

cute little guy
very nice visitor

[count dewclaw]

Yesterday it was in the 70's and I haven't seen any snakes in the basement for awhile. Today it was in the 50's and I found this little pile of snakes in my basement...I counted at least 5.

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/snakepile1.JPG

[Snake lover 3-25]

wow that's too cool!!!!

[drache]

very cool
nice to know they've got a safe place to go

[count dewclaw]

Thanks everyone. Last night we had a light frost, so this morning I was not surprised to find another pile of snakes there in the basement. Soon, I'm sure they will be gone for the summer.

[snakems]

Jealousy! I want this magical basement.
hahaha.... I SECOND THIS!!
i am jealoussss! My basement never produces snakiesss :( lol

[Seere121]

I wish I had your basement! I remember a while back there was a local news article where a group of garters decided to make their winter hide under some guys house. Come spring HUNDREDS of garters came pouring out every hole in the guys house. They had Garters everywhere inside and outside, and called in some "pest control" guys who collected the garters and relocated them.

[count dewclaw]

Interesting! I don't have that many, yet.

[count dewclaw]

Well, the garters seem to have all move out for the summer. However, I did find a milk snake checking out one of the snake/gecko rooms (on the first floor of the house, not the basement) a couple days ago. Didn't get any pictures because my kids had the camera *grrrrr*.

[count dewclaw]

So I was wrong, again. It has been cool and rainy here, I found these two inside the basement warming up and drying off.

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/basementgarter.JPG

This one didn't seem to be able to make up its mind about staying in or going back out...

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/basementgarter2.JPG

[guidofatherof5]

The one in the first picture looks so relaxed.
Right at home.:D

[count dewclaw]

Oh yeah! They make themselves very comfy. In fact, the milksnake I caught last week ate some thawed fuzzy mice right off a plate while I was still holding him/her not even two minutes after I had picked him/her up.:eek: I had the fuzzies thawing for my snakes and was curious if the milksnake would go for the mice....

[guidofatherof5]

Oh yeah! They make themselves very comfy. In fact, the milksnake I caught last week ate some thawed fuzzy mice right off a plate while I was still holding him/her not even two minutes after I had picked him/her up.:eek: I had the fuzzies thawing for my snakes and was curious if the milksnake would go for the mice....

Very nice.

[mustang]

how much will u sell ur house for...leave it to me in ur will plz its sooooooooooooo amazing

[count dewclaw]

Found this little girl in the basement today. She is only 18-20 inches long, but I think she may be gravid, what do you guys think?

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/basementgirl.JPG

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/basementgirl2.JPG

I escorted her outside after the photo shoot.

[guidofatherof5]

Very nice find.
So why did you just leave them in the basement?
You could have left food and water out.
A small hide and they would have been set.:D

[count dewclaw]

Found this tiny one in the basement yesterday. I think they are starting to look for winter hiding places.....should be seeing more visitors soon.

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/fallbaby.JPG

[guidofatherof5]

Found this tiny one in the basement yesterday. I think they are starting to look for winter hiding places.....should be seeing more visitors soon.

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/fallbaby.JPG

Great looking little scrub.

[SNAKEKEEPER]

Jealousy! I want this magical basement.As do I.....

[count dewclaw]

We've had a few more visitors during the last few weeks...

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/fallgarter.JPG

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/basement_garter.JPG

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/fallbaby2.JPG

Two were this year's babies the other was a sub-adult/adult (kind of hard to tell with it coiled up in the wall....

[guidofatherof5]

Very nice looking visitors. It's always great when they come looking for us.

[count dewclaw]

Went down in the basement to check the snake wall today and I found 6 (yes, six!) snakes hanging out at the same time.

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/snake1.JPG

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/snake21.JPG

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/snake3.JPG

Sorry this ones blurry, camera wanted to focus on the wall...

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/snake4.JPG

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/snake5.JPG

This one is a really pretty rusty color (a bit blurry, too)

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/snake6.JPG

[Mommy2many]

Very nice!