local breeders

[mockachild]

hey all. I am new to garter snakes. I caught an eastern garter in upstate ny. I am looking to get her a mate. anyone breeding on the east coast where I can arrange for a pick up. thanks.

[drache]

hi there, and welcome to the forum
there are people keeping and breeding eastern garters on the east coast
if they are local to you they would be keeping a low profile, since it is illegal to keep easterns in NY - them being a native species

[ConcinusMan]

Hmm... technically it's illegal to keep ANY wild critter in WA too, but law enforcement (including fish and game) doesn't really care when it comes to garter snakes, and they don't enforce. They will nail you for keeping a pacific rubber boa though. I got nailed for that. (threatened species) Even though, by law my garters were illegal, they were nice about it after I explained that I had them for many years and the were beloved pets, and it would break my heart to give them up. They said the garters could stay, but they confiscated my boa.

[Calift]

OT....but how did they find out you had a rubber boa?

[ConcinusMan]

At the time, I was living in an apt. Landlord, neighbor, idiot, somebody... I dunno, called them just to make sure everything's legal I guess. Probably told them I had a lot of snakes, (I had about 12 at the time, and lot's of tanks) so they(fish & game officers) came out to check things out. No specific rule about keeping snakes at the apt. even though the landlord didn't much care for it, they weren't doing any harm, so it was allowed. Anyway, they had to know what was in each and every tank. "Bud" my rubber boa was in one of those tanks. In retrospect, I could have kept her if I told them to come back with a warrant, giving me time to hide him at a friend's I suppose. But, if I had done that, they probably would have made me give up of ALL of them. Didn't want to tick them off, so I cooperated and let them in. I didn't really mind giving up Bud, I'm just glad they didn't take my sweet concinnus' and ordinoides!!!

ON topic...Hey mock, you know what you could do? you could brumate your garter and wait for spring to wake her up at the same time the others outside are waking up, and go find her a mate. They would be in "breeding mode" at that time. Just be careful about hateful people catching wind of what you're doing, or you'll end up in a situation like I did!

[Odie]

Hi, from Oregon, mockachild :)