Is it odd?

[AnnainOK]

In November, we rescued a garter snake (I'm not certain of the subspecies). She's done well over the winter, eating fish and shedding a couple times. Last Saturday we left on vacation, and upon coming home today, we found she had given birth to around ten babies.

It seems like a long time, but the only possible explanation was that she retained the sperm for several months; right?

[infernalis]

Yes that would be correct, they will sometimes breed in the fall and retain that breeding for a springtime birth.

Congratulations on your new litter.

[guidofatherof5]

What a wonderful surprise.
Looking forward to seeing some photos.
Are the babies eating, yet?

[ConcinusMan]

In November, we rescued a garter snake (I'm not certain of the subspecies). She's done well over the winter, eating fish and shedding a couple times. Last Saturday we left on vacation, and upon coming home today, we found she had given birth to around ten babies.

It seems like a long time, but the only possible explanation was that she retained the sperm for several months; right?

Yes, certain species/subspecies tend to do that. I've had northwestern garter snakes (T. ordinoides) mate with multiple males during a single breeding season (spring or fall mating) and give birth to litters up to a year since their last mating. They can also produce more than one litter per mating.

Where did you find your snake? (what state)

[AnnainOK]

We found her here in SE Oklahoma last November. I suppose she's actually what I've seen termed a Mexican ribbon snake, Thamnophis proximus.

Mrs. Snakels (my son named her) had been offered several foods, but lived on fish all winter. After giving birth, though, she's apparently so hungry that she ate worms as well. We have small red wigglers, so I'm hoping the young ones will eat them too. If we don't see them eating soon we're figuring it's probably best to release them around one of our ponds.

I've really found this particular snake to be an easy to handle, but a pain to feed when trying to avoid fish that are thiaminase-free. If I can get her to keep eating worms, it would be much better.

[guidofatherof5]

Ditch the red wiggles. If they are redworms they are toxic and will kill the babies.
Earthworms and night crawlers are safe.

Redworms sometimes called red wiggles and compost worm emit a toxic yellow fluid when disturbed.

Eisenia fetida - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eisenia_fetida)

[ConcinusMan]

Ribbon snakes can sometimes be converted to dead fish. If you can find frozen silversides (arctic pond smelt - safe fish) sold as food for carnivorous fish, they are whole, safe, and nutritious. Not only that, they look somewhat alive if you wiggle one on the end of the tongs. Some ribbon snakes will take them with a little coaxing. If you can get her to take those regularly, you can try scenting a pinky and wiggling that in front of her.

[AnnainOK]

Ditch the red wiggles. If they are redworms they are toxic and will kill the babies.
Earthworms and night crawlers are safe.

Redworms sometimes called red wiggles and compost worm emit a toxic yellow fluid when disturbed.

Eisenia fetida - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eisenia_fetida)

Thanks for the information...sometimes I hate the Internet for all the wrong stuff you can get.

At any rate, we've turned the babies loose on our back pond that is very overgrown and full of all sorts of stuff. I really felt that was the best thing for them. We're on sixty acres way out in the country, so they stand a good chance.