My snake den

[count dewclaw]

As I've mentioned before the garter snakes use an old shallow dug well next to my house for a brumation site. They are starting to come out again this year, so I thought I would share some pictures...

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

That is the porch of my house you see in the first picture.

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/snake_den_3.JPG

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

So far I've seen about a dozen snakes out. Still no females, but I expect them to start coming out in the next few days.

[adamanteus]

Excellent photos, LeAnn. It will be interesting to see what pics you get once the females start to emerge.

[count dewclaw]

Thanks, I'm hoping to get a nice mating ball shot, but we'll have to wait and see. Last year there were at least 3 large females that emerged.

[Sid]

Great photos, LeAnn. Nice looking Garters too.

[gregmonsta]

Good stuff :D

[guidofatherof5]

I wish I had one of those around my house.
Great photos.

[drache]

that's so cool LeAnn
and great photos too

[Snaky]

Very nice, LeAnn. That must be fun to observe :)

[count dewclaw]

Thanks everyone. Yes, I have fun watching them emerge, seeing if I can recognize any from the previous year, getting a rough idea of how many are around, and just enjoying their beauty. Sometimes it is too much fun and I spend more time watching them than doing what I should.....

[anji1971]

I'd have a little shelter built over the well, and just live in it all spring. Nobody would see me for weeks, but I'd have tons of photos........:D

[stonyloam]

Ahhhh... one advantage over the old world. The Euro may be up and the dollar may be down, but..... we got garters comin outa the ground....:D:D:D:D

[prattypus]

Ahhhh... one advantage over the old world. The Euro may be up and the dollar may be down, but..... we got garters comin outa the ground....:D:D:D:D
That one almost hurt my head...

[count dewclaw]

Ahhhh... one advantage over the old world. The Euro may be up and the dollar may be down, but..... we got garters comin outa the ground....:D:D:D:D

Thanks, I needed that laugh! :D:D

[Snake lover 3-25]

that's sooo cool!!!:) LUCKY!!

[wolfpacksved]

that's excellent, and glad to know they have a safe haven for the winter sleep!

[snakems]

As I've mentioned before the garter snakes use an old shallow dug well next to my house for a brumation site. They are starting to come out again this year, so I thought I would share some pictures...

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

That is the porch of my house you see in the first picture.

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/snake_den_3.JPG

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

So far I've seen about a dozen snakes out. Still no females, but I expect them to start coming out in the next few days.

wow you are SOOOO lucky I am envious of you! :D hopefully you'll see some soon! :)

[count dewclaw]

Thanks, if the weather would stay warm I might see some females. We have a beautiful day and them we have several that are rainy/snowy and much cooler. Soon, they should be out soon!

[Sid]

Looking forward to some mating photos, LeAnn.:D

[count dewclaw]

Me too, but we are supposed to get 1-3" of snow tonight, then 2-4" tomorrow and 1-2" tomorrow night! Can't make any promises on those photos.

[lestat]

Very nice looking Garters. Their colour is brilliant. I know it just Grey but they still look so good. I want some like that some day.

[count dewclaw]

Actually, that picture does not show their true colors. There is one that is slightly green, some that are dark grey-brown with very few markings, some that are light brown with red-brown spots, some that are rusty colored (not flames), some with distinct stripes, and some with almost no stripe at all. It is always fun to see the variety of colors that show up each year.

[guidofatherof5]

LeAnn,

Can you get very close to them? Have they gotten used to you being around them? The reason I ask is that I have some wild radixes that will allow me to touch them but not pick them up. It seem they trust me at least that far. Just wondering.

[count dewclaw]

I can get fairly close, but they are wary. There is a lot of traffic through that area with 4 kids and two dogs....

[count dewclaw]

It's happening!

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/matingball1.JPG

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/matingball2.JPG

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/matingball3.JPG

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/matingball4.JPG

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/matingball5.JPG

The female travelled through this area and some of the guys became confused...

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

Sorry the photos aren't the greatest, the sun was very bright and I don't have good editing software....

One of the photos I took shows eight males.

[guidofatherof5]

This is fabulous stuff. Right in you're front yard! I hope you're getting plenty of video. What an amazing thing to see. You are so lucky. If you were selling tickets, I'd buy one.:)

[adamanteus]

Fantastic photos, LeAnn. You're so lucky!

[count dewclaw]

Unfortunately, we do not have a video camera and the video quality on our digital camera isn't the greatest (or I don't know how to work it). But I took lots of photos. I saw 2 large females today.

[Zephyr]

The boys exploring the "female" hose made me giggle. XD
Amazing pics.

[Sid]

Great photos, LeAnn. Keep them comming:)

[drache]

fantastic photos, LeAnn
not as good as being there - you're so lucky
thanks for the show

[Snake lover 3-25]

wow that's sooo cool!!!! great pics!

[lestat]

Very good photos. That female is quite big and shows the difference between males and females.

[MasSalvaje]

I am so jealous. That is amazing!

-Thomas

[count dewclaw]

Looks like that was it for this Spring, I didn't see any females today, just a few males. I expect those males will be dispersing soon.

[wolfpacksved]

...the garden hose isn't even safe. awesome pics.

[dashnu]

Cool shots! After watching my Male try try try try try and try again I am under the assumption it takes this breeding ball to succeed ;) :p

[count dewclaw]

I was wrong! They were out breeding again today. I shot some video with my digital camera, so the quality isn't great, but it will give you an idea of what goes on in my yard...

YouTube - garter snake mating ball (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUPRw-fVlNo)

[k2l3d4]

totally awesome! can I come set up camp in your yard.

[guidofatherof5]

I've never seen a breeding ball in person but you have one in your front yard. It's not fair. It's just not fair.

[drache]

it's okay, Steve
look - she's sharing
I'm jealous too though
you lucky girl, LeAnn

[guidofatherof5]

LeAnn,

I know something you can buy with all the gov. stimulus money that you recieve(probably the same amount I got $0.00) A 24/7 webcam for your den. That way we can all watch.
No need to thank me, I like to be helpful. I'm kind of an idea guy.:D
I let my mind wonder once and it never came back!:D

[count dewclaw]

I think I'll stick with the camera I have now. The webcam would only be good for a few weeks and I would rather spend any money I get on other snakes.;) I'll share as much as I can with the photos I post. Or you can swing by my house when you visit Wayne in July (I'm only 1 hour away). However, in July there won't be much garter snake action around the den.

[guidofatherof5]

Do you have access to the well area? You have sparked my interest. How deep is it? I'm just curious as to the interior. Is there anyway you can get any pictures of the inside? Just wondering.

[count dewclaw]

The well was dug (probably by hand years ago), it is probably lined with stones. We pulled that old pump out and found out the well is about 12 feet deep. The concrete slab is about 4 feet x 4 feet (maybe bigger), not something you move just for fun. If you had lights and a camera you could probably stick them down through the hole for the pump. Not sure how you would control the camera since the hole is not extremely large.



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