San Francisco Garter Snake

[Boots]

Discussion thread for San Francisco Garter Snake (http://www.thamnophis.com/caresheets/index.php?title=San Francisco Garter Snake). If you would like to add a comment, click the New Reply button

[suzoo]

Pictures Jason, I mean Boots! Pictures! You should put pictures under the names :)

[Boots]

Rome was not built in a day. :) The Sheets will take a community effort, but I am sure they will be worth it. If everyone puts down a little bit of information, they will be full of useful information in no time.

Jason

[suzoo]

Oh, OK. But some of these are going to be a real challenge!

[Josh]

I added to the san fran care sheet feel free to change any thing.

[Ameivaboy]

I have a lot of information on SF garters and visit parts where they are known to occur from time to time, I'll post some of the info and habitat pictures when i have more free time

[Lollipop]

This snakes are so beautiful.

Ameivaboy, I look forward to the information which you are going to put. That will allow me to know this snake better in its natural environment (even if I think I know a little about it =))

[Bay_area]

:Dhttp://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c306/norcalsnakemaster/SFGarter.jpg

[Lulu Bennett]

:Dhttp://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c306/norcalsnakemaster/SFGarter.jpg

Awwww its beautiful! mine is a bit more greener than that on the stripes and the belly

[Cazador]

It's hard to imagine that a snake could have such beautiful colors without them being digitally enhanced, but I know they can. They're amazing creatures!

[adamanteus]

They're amazing creatures!

Yes, they are, Rick..... and I have 1.2!:p

[Lulu Bennett]

Yes, they are, Rick..... and I have 1.2!:p
lol yup rick lol and i have 1.1 also lol

[CrazyHedgehog]

do I detect a little 'nah nah ne nah nah' in these last few posts by any chance??? well its not on, its really rude!! Poor rick...is he not allowed any where he comes from?
Oh dear...
Well...

i have 4 too so there....:p

[Lulu Bennett]

i have 4 too so there....:p
awww Inge that isn't on lol:D

[Bay_area]

Awwww its beautiful! mine is a bit more greener than that on the stripes and the belly

That one is in the wild, near Half Moon Bay

[Lulu Bennett]

That one is in the wild, near Half Moon Bay
he is still a very beautiful creature.:p

[drache]

I need to see one in the flesh some day
in pictures it always looks like they're painted

[Lulu Bennett]

I need to see one in the flesh some day
in pictures it always looks like they're painted

Rhea, you and mikhaila come to hamm next sept and i will bring mine :D

[zooplan]

I need to see one in the flesh some day
in pictures it always looks like they're painted
You have two occasions for that:
Visit Bay Area or visit your relatives here and make a safari to some garter keepers.

[anji1971]

They are beautiful, and I'd like to see one in the flesh one day myself! I don't know if anyone in Canada breeds them or not, or if I can even afford one right now, I imagine their a bit pricey?

[CrazyHedgehog]

are you allowed them in Canada?

[anji1971]

Where I live, technically no, not in the city itself. But the bylaws out in the county allow it, and we do wish to move out there someday. Not to mention how many people in the city are keeping exotics despite the bylaw.:)

[i of the storm]

can you buy/keep them in the US?

[Cazador]

can you buy/keep them in the US?

Nah, they're on the endangered species list... dangerously rare in the wild.

[i of the storm]

Since its a subspecies, basically just a color difference, couldn't a population be created elsewhere, like on an island?

[Stefan-A]

No. The island has its own unique ecosystem and enough islands in the Pacific have already been damaged that way, but due to Boiga irregularis. They've spread with cargo ships and planes from island to island since the mid-1900's and they've had a serious impact on the local wildlife. The island of Guam is the most famous example, I guess.

I'm just saying that we already have a warning example. :)

[Cazador]

J,

You're bringing up the issue of a reintroduction program. I think the Europeans have proven their immense success breeding captive tetrataenia, but in order to do so in the U.S., one would need to be federally permitted, which isn't being allowed. Stephan makes a great counter-arguement. The threat is that the immune system of captive tetrataenia becomes compromised, and sick captives get released and intermingle with the few remaining wild ones. Then they become the death of the entire subspecies. A carefully-selected island seems to have merit, but the feds just don't take chances after a (sub)species has been added to the Endangered Species List. I think responsible professionals could pull if off, though. What's even more strange is that the feds allow a very limited number to be captured in order for scientific research, but captive breeding and reintroduction remains one GIANT step away. I have to admit, though, that I believe it would be extremely risky for a well-intentioned hobbiest to illegally give it a try.

Rick

[KITKAT]

In Ohio, we had a variety of Plains garter that lived only in a certain natural preserve. ODNR introduced some western Plains garters into the area to try to bolster the population.

They also had a breed and reintroduce program to try to spread the species further.

Result? They are now extremely rare, even in the small area where they were once plentiful.

Miserable failure.:(