Snappers

[Steven@HumboldtHerps]

It's usually during spring or fall herping trips that I come across most of my sightings of Northwestern, Coast, Mountain, and CA Red-sided Garters. Summer in the misty Northwest however usually inspires us to travel an hour or two inland to any one of the 6 to 7 major rivers around us. This means countless run-ins with Oregon Garters! Now most wild garters will try to defecate on you when taken in hand, and Oregon Garters are no different. However... of all the species I usually come across, T. atratus hydrophilus is the most apt to draw blood. Here's a few pics of some snappers!

http://www.humboldtherps.com/images/oregon_garter1B_-_so_fk_salmon_river_-_06-23-2007.jpg
So. Fk. Salmon River, SW Siskiyou County

http://www.humboldtherps.com/images/oregon_garter1C_-_sapphire_lake_-_trinity_alps_-07-06-2007.jpg
Sapphire Lake/Stuart Fork Creek, NW Trinity County

http://www.humboldtherps.com/images/oregon_garter3E_-_stuart_fork_creek_-_07-07-2007.jpg
http://www.humboldtherps.com/images/oregon_garter3C_-_stuart_fork_creek_-_07-07-2007.jpg
Stuart Fork Creek, NW Trinity County

http://www.humboldtherps.com/images/HCHSimage-CHOMP_-Oregon_Garter_Snake-So._Fk._Chetco_River_OR_07-28-2007.jpg
So. Fk. Chetco River, SW OREGON

I love these snakes!

Steve

[Stefan-A]

http://www.humboldtherps.com/images/oregon_garter3E_-_stuart_fork_creek_-_07-07-2007.jpg
Priceless. :D

Excellent photos, by the way. :)

[Steven@HumboldtHerps]

Thanks Stefan!

[adamanteus]

Well, aren't you 'Mr. Popular' with the local garters!:D

[drache]

great shots, Steven
kind of funny seeing one after the other

[Lori P]

Love it, Steven!! And I agree with Stefan, love that face shot. :-)

[anji1971]

Those photos are so cool!
And here we are always promoting how gentle the garters are..................:D

[count dewclaw]

Great shots! This one is horror movie material if I ever saw any! :eek:;)




http://www.humboldtherps.com/images/oregon_garter3E_-_stuart_fork_creek_-_07-07-2007.jpg

[reptileparadise]

Awesome!
I was thinking about completely different snappers! lol...

[Garter_Gertie]

Awesome!
I was thinking about completely different snappers! lol...

So was I!

I didn't think a garter's mouth was big enuff to get a hold of anywhere on me. I was sure wrong. If Ripley (6' bull snake) has teeth 1/16th of an inch... How long is a wee garter's? 1/64th?

Did you have any type of reaction, Steven? Did it hurt? What did it feel like?

And GREAT pics!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Steven@HumboldtHerps]

I just go with it. When I pick up wild Oregons, I count on getting musked and bitten! The pin pricks from the neonates are not a big deal, but the adults can give you a pretty good chew!

[jitami]

Great pics Steven! That open mouth shot is sweet!

[crzy_kevo]

wow those are great shots

[Gijs & Sabine]

Excellent pictures :eek:

[ssssnakeluvr]

http://www.humboldtherps.com/images/oregon_garter3E_-_stuart_fork_creek_-_07-07-2007.jpg


Steve

that's one awesome photo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D