Greetings from southern Alberta

[DerekB]

I've been a member of this forum for some time, but haven't really participated a great deal. Time to get involved! I'm one of the older members, like guidofatherof5, right Steve? :D

I'm snakeless right now. Made a bad decision way back in the spring that I was going to find new homes for my critters and focus on some other things. I really regret that now! So, here it is, autumn, and I'm starting to think about how much I miss having reptiles.

Time to start over! Of course, I've picked the wrong time of the year here in Canada. Although temps in the first week of November here are going to touch about 16C (61F), it's too cool for local snakes and most people I know have sold off all their young ones by now. But that means I have time to prepare a great habitat for next spring!

[guidofatherof5]

Glad you're jumping in Derek.
Prepare a great enclosure and start up on the Spring.
I'm only as old as I feel.
Today, that's about 75:D

[DerekB]

I will, Steve. I've been debating with myself about taking garters from the wild. Don't want to hurt local populations. But I do live in farm country and I've met some people who find they are killing snakes with their rider mowers every spring and summer. It's not intentional. They just don't see them.

So I figure if I can rescue a few from around farm houses that would otherwide meet an untimely demise, I could be doing a good thing.

Reminds of a time about 12 or 13 years ago when we visited friends in the province of British Columbia, west of Alberta. We all went for a walk one evening in an area that was once all natural, but was being bulldozed for a new housing development. There on the path, right in clear sight, was a rubber boa! I'd searched all over in the past trying to find one and never could.

Now, here was one right out in the open. I couldn't leave there knowing the dozers were coming again the next day, so I picked it up and ended up delivering it to a reptile exhibit place nearby. Normally, I would have left it in the wild, but not when I knew it would likely be killed. Same for garters killed by mowers!

[infernalis]

Depending on the situation, I do think too many people put too much emphasis on catching one or two garter snakes if you reside near a heavy population.

gathering yourself a snake or two is not the same thing as gathering a huge quantity and selling them or whatever.

with the exception of the San Francisco garters, there really is no major shortages in the wild, this is one species that is really abundant & reproduces fast.

[Stefan-A]

gathering yourself a snake or two is not the same thing as gathering a huge quantity and selling them or whatever.
No, it's like catching or killing one or two with a bunch of people, each doing the exact same thing. It adds up and a snake or two removed from the wild is a snake or two that won't be producing two dozen offspring per year that won't be a part of the food source for a number of species and that won't grow up to produce more of its kind.


with the exception of the San Francisco garters, there really is no major shortages in the wild, this is one species that is really abundant & reproduces fast.Source, please. Ever considered local situations, by the way?

[infernalis]

You have a point, and my statement is probably narrow minded, however I based that statement on the sheer number of Thamnophis that get run over by mowers, chopped up by the misinformed irrational phobia cases, road kills, etc.. Yet there always seems to be plenty of garter snakes in the areas that support them.

I'm not going to lose any sleep because some crow or raven does not get his liver treats either.

I can't speak for heavily urbanized areas, but the rural farmland areas that are scattered all over America seem to be alive with garter snakes.

You even said yourself that one possible reason garter snakes can tolerate group housing is because they are one of the most densely populated species in existence.

Something like a drought wiping out all the food or an extremely cold winter pushing the frostline down an extra couple feet is surely going to have a far greater impact on the snakes than a person or two bringing a specimen into the house and keeping it properly.

[DerekB]

My thinking was along the lines of Stefan-A's. If everybody took a couple of snakes, it could be devastating. But as infernalis points out, there are areas of rural farmland across North America and there are areas where urban sprawl stretches into former wild lands where there are garter snakes that are going to be killed simply because of the things humans do.

I live close to a town called Magrath, population just over 2,000. Originally each lot was something like half an acre. There is a creek and fish pond on one side of the town. Garter snakes are common and with many people using rider mowers to cut a backyard that could house a horse (and in some cases does), snakes get chopped up regularly.

If I can save a couple of snakes from that fate, I think I'll give it a go.

[Spankenstyne]

Hey Derek, I've seen some beautiful Radix in that area. You might be surprised at how cool they'll still be seen at. Some folks have posted pics of garters basking in or near the snow. I've found them near Lethbridge at about 12C & cloudy. A slightly cooler day but with some sun would likely see some as well. I've been told by a few others that 10C seems to be the approx cutoff temp for seeing them out & about here.

As for wild garters in Alberta just keep in mind that we can keep the native species legally we just can't breed, trade, sell, or export them. If you're going to take one from the wild I'd suggest trying to get a baby or juvie. Chances are it wasn't likely going to see adulthood anyways & will have less impact than taking a breeding adult. Taking a breeding size/age one though is taking one that has already overcome those big odds.

Just my .02 but it's cool to see more folks into garters out our way. Send me a message in the early spring and I may have some non-native species babies available if you're still looking.

[guidofatherof5]

Chris,
I have all those beautiful radixes under contract with the T.radix Ranch. So, basically they are all mine.:D

[mustang]

Chris,
I have all those beautiful radixes under contract with the T.radix Ranch. So, basically they are all mine.:D
ah the federal steve radix act let me see...claus 2 section 8.....ah here it is "steve has ownership of all wild radiz" wow that sums up a lot

[DerekB]

Hey Derek, I've seen some beautiful Radix in that area. You might be surprised at how cool they'll still be seen at. Some folks have posted pics of garters basking in or near the snow. I've found them near Lethbridge at about 12C & cloudy. A slightly cooler day but with some sun would likely see some as well. I've been told by a few others that 10C seems to be the approx cutoff temp for seeing them out & about here.


Hi Chris. Yeah, garters do tend to accept the weather around here. Hey, that's something to point out to any python and boa fans who may have little regard for garters. "My garter is tougher than your tropical woosie snake." This fall is proving as weird as the past summer, but for the opposite reason. Instead of cool and damp, it's warm and dry. Up to 18C here in Lethbridge later this week. So I would expect they'll be out catching some rays in the warmer part of the day.

And you are already on my contact list for the spring. You breed checkereds, right? When do you want me to start bugging you? :D

Derek

[guidofatherof5]

Hi Chris. Yeah, garters do tend to accept the weather around here. Hey, that's something to point out to any python and boa fans who may have little regard for garters. "My garter is tougher than your tropical woosie snake." This fall is proving as weird as the past summer, but for the opposite reason. Instead of cool and damp, it's warm and dry. Up to 18C here in Lethbridge later this week. So I would expect they'll be out catching some rays in the warmer part of the day.

Derek

So Derek, does that mean you'll be going out to get some photos?

[mustang]

ah the federal steve radix act let me see...claus 2 section 8.....ah here it is "steve has ownership of all wild radiz" wow that sums up a lot
radix not radiz sorry typo