I have some questions on my new yard mate! =)

[Nosmo]

Hello all,
I figured this was the best place to find my answers.

I live in Oregon near the coast and a few weeks ago while I was walking my dog in our front yard I noticed a small snake scurry a crossed the tall grass. I kind of figured it was a garter snake from its markings (although I'm no expert!).
Now it's been living next to our apple tree ever since. Everytime I walk my dogs, I see it, and say hello =P

Well the time has come where we need to mow the lawn and this will surely endanger him/her. I wanted to post a picture to hopefully get a positive ID that it isn't poisonous.. so I can attempt to move him, so I don't kill it when I mow.

http://img297.imageshack.us/img297/3803/kaauu8.th.jpg (http://img297.imageshack.us/my.php?image=kaauu8.jpg)
Its not a very clear shot of him/her because our grass is so tall!

And also maybe advice on how to safely capture (Wish I could keep him/her but my wife is afraid of snakes in general) and release in my back yard (as we have a fairly large area of trees and undergrowth for it to live in safely).

[adamanteus]

It's certainly a Garter, and so completely harmless. It's hard to tell the species from the photo.
Please do relocate the little guy before you mow.... you can just pick him up and move him... he won't (can't) harm you.

[ssssnakeluvr]

yes, it's a garter, probably a northwestern garter. totally harmless. you can just pick him up and move him elsewhere...he may just move on also...

[enigma200316]

yes,I agree with the above, thanks for thinking of the little guy instead of doing the alterative.............;):)

[Nosmo]

I relocated him today, he was a sneaky lil guy. and fast!
I was sad letting him go, I almost wanted to keep'em. It was about a foot long.. That was the first time holding a snake too by the way heh, so it was a very new experience for me.
Boy was it stinky!

I'm disappointed I really wanted to take some pictures of it, but between my dogs wanting to kill it, my wife being scared and the phone ringing I left the house and forgot to take some shots. =(

[adamanteus]

Well done for moving him Nosmo. Shame you couldn't get any more pictures.
Perhaps he'll visit you again some time, and you could let us know!

[Odie]

Hi, from Hillsboro, Nosmo :)
I would say it is a northwestern garter too ;)

[Stefan-A]

Welcome aboard, Nosmo. :)

[drache]

nice to meet you, Nosmo
thanks for taking care of the snake
the stinky stuff is called musk