Felicia climbs into my hand

[ColibríCulebra]

In late fall, I found a juvenile striped garter snake that had been trapped on my screened porch for I don't know how long. I assumed she was very cold and hungry so I brought her in, made her a lovely terrarium with moss, plants, a hide, water dish, a heating pad underneath and a UV lamp on top ... all stuff that I just had on hand. I Googled what to feed her, named her Felicia ("happiness" in Spanish) and we were all set.

Hummingbirds have been flying into my house and I have handled and filmed them for many years. If interested, see: hummingbirds « The Global Rowing Club (http://globalrowingclub.com/tag/hummingbirds-2/) Hummingbirds love to sit in my hand — even outside — content and happy for long periods.

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Felicia does too sit happily curled up in my hand ... up to an hour sometimes before I have to say "gotta get something done" and put her back in her little house.

I have a Venezuelan assistant and she told me the word for snake in Spanish is culebra ... shockingly close to colibrí, hummingbird in Spanish. I mentioned it to another friend who sent me the link to this song: Colibrí Culebra http://lunamoth.bandcamp.com/track/colibr-culebra?permalink

Felica loves this song like a child who gets hooked on one Sesame Street song and wants to hear it over and over. I play it in my office on repeat and she comes out when it is on. Today she has been very uncharacteristically halfway out of her hide for most of the day.

Yesterday she did something I thought was amazing for a wild caught snake only three weeks at her new address ... at least I think so. I've been trying to find out if what she did is a common thing or not. That's why I am posting on this board.



I take her out of her terrarium to eat so I can monitor that she does eat and how much (earth worms ... so they won't disappear into the moss). I put her in a clear shoebox on a paper towel with the worms. It's a real show to watch her eat. She looks like a Muppet puppet. It's funny even though it's a little hurdle for me to get over to feed her live creatures. I don't think I'll ever be able to feed her mice no matter how big she gets.


After we fed her and she was able to relax and digest for a bit, she reared up inside the box looking at me like she was calling me to come pick her up for her "mommy" time. I took the top off and this time, instead of picking her up, I just stood there holding my hand out flat next to the corner of the box where her little head was, level with the top of the box and her head. I asked her if she wanted to come curl up in my hand for a while. Within seconds she lazily rose up and climbed into my hand and up my arm until she was completely out of the box and then with a little help, settled into a coil in my hand to sit happily for a half an hour or so before I had to get back to work.


Do snakes usually come when they are called? Next time we will make a video of it.

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[infernalis]

http://www.thamfriends.com/mat.jpg

[infernalis]

Do snakes usually come when they are called? Next time we will make a video of it.

Unfortunately, Snakes do not have any ears. They do have rudimentary sound sensors that can pick up ground vibrations and very low frequency bass notes.

Here is a must read for you, It's our garter snake care sheet, it contains all sorts of wonderful information on caring for your handsome little friend.

Any questions, just ask. Our members here are very helpful people.

Enjoy your time on the forums.

Garter Snake Forum - Garter Caresheet (http://www.thamnophis.com/index.php?page=caresheet)

[EasternGirl]

Snakes are not actually able to hear you...but she may be figuring out what you want her to do by your actions. In Mexican, the word for snake is "bibura"...Welcome to the forum!

[guidofatherof5]

Nice to have Felicia and you on the forum.

They don't come when you call. Must have been a wonderful coincidence.
If she is comfortable with you then seeking your warm hand, a meal and some times out with you is very possible.
I have snakes that come out to me just to climb on me. I can only hope they have some kind of good feelings toward my company.
Here's a link to the care sheet which will give you more insight to the keeping of garter snakes.
Any questions not answered can be posted to the forum.
Main Page - Caresheets (http://www.thamnophis.com/caresheets/index.php?title=Main_Page)

[chris-uk]

Welcome to forum!

[indigoman]

Welcome to the forum, I have yet to have one of my humming birds do that!

[EasternGirl]

I really love hummingbirds...I wish we saw more of them around here.

[katach]

Welcome to the forum family!

[kibakiba]

We have a pair of hummingbirds here, it's always the same two that come over to our house. They have a cool design on their heads (the others I have seen don't), and the male has colours that are a little different than the others we've seen here... They really love to hog the hummingbird feeder! :D

[d_virginiana]

Welcome!

They can also get used to your smell, and begin to beg for attention the minute you walk into the room. My blind snake always notices when I come home sooner than the one that can see because he smells me :)

That hummingbird picture is adorable btw.

[PINJOHN]

Welcome from a rain drenched Liverpool
http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR4y1dPtN-EVPENg1BYYsLqoHg5jOJOmruRHFC-G6D7nGLBSxPphAhttp://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSaz93quM1Ay0V0d7uMRqvUm3CpZZtMC wWq2SdiSWB_eWH5brgjzg

[ConcinusMan]

Do snakes usually come when they are called? Next time we will make a video of it.

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Only if they're used to you feeding them. And then they're being "called" by food.;) They are generally unresponsive to human speech since their hearing is extremely limited.

Another reason for climbing into your hand could be that the snake is attracted to the heat of your hand. Especially if you're not providing a heat source for their enclosure. (heat source is recommended)

From what you described, it sounds like the snake is cold and sits on your hand for heat.

[d_virginiana]

Only if they're used to you feeding them. And then they're being "called" by food.;) They are generally unresponsive to human speech since their hearing is extremely limited.

Another reason for climbing into your hand could be that the snake is attracted to the heat of your hand. Especially if you're not providing a heat source for their enclosure. (heat source is recommended)

From what you described, it sounds like the snake is cold and sits on your hand for heat.

There's also the curiosity factor involved. I know mine seem to enjoy being taken out and handled just because it's a change from their little four-walled world.

[ColibríCulebra]

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome. I am new to being a snake mommy. The care sheet on this site is great. The day I found Felicia, I found this site that was very helpful: Garter Snake Care - gartersnake.info (http://www.gartersnake.info/care/)

She's not cold. I keep her home between 70 and 80º ... a little cooler at night, warmer during the day. I remember now that snake charmers mesmerize Cobras with the movement of their flutes and not the music. Are garter snakes sensitive to human's moods? Maybe Felicia comes out when the Colibrí Culebra song is on because it makes me happy to hear it.

I didn't mean to turn this into a hummingbird forum too, but my magical experience with hummingbirds has been such a delight for me. When I discovered the names for hummingbirds and snakes were so similar I wondered what it meant. I always wonder what things mean. I have a lot of synchronicity with all kinds of animals. I really enjoy the American Indian Animal Totem meanings and look for the symbolism when I have encounters with animals. While I was researching snakes, I learned something I didn't know, and that is that along with the meanings, the Animal Totems are assigned to birth dates as in Astrology. My birth Totem is SNAKE. Who knew? Native American Animal Symbols (http://www.whats-your-sign.com/native-american-animal-symbols.html)

http://www.whats-your-sign.com/images/NAZodiaSnake.jpgSnake (http://www.whats-your-sign.com/snake-symbolic-meaning.html): Oct 23 – Nov 22
Most shamans are born under this Native American animal symbol. The Snake is a natural in all matters of spirit. Easily attuned to the ethereal realm the Snake makes an excellent spiritual leader. Also respected for his/her healing capacities, the Snake also excels in medical professions. The Snake's preoccupation with matters intangible often lead others to view them as mysterious, and sometimes frightening. True, the Snake can be secretive, and a bit dark – he/she is also quite sensitive, and caring. In a supportive relationship the cool Snake can be passionate, inspiring, humorous, and helpful. Left to his/her own devices, the Snake can be despondent, violent, and prone to abnormal mood swings.

I am happy to report, the last sentence doesn't apply to me. :)

[EasternGirl]

Oh very cool...my totem is snake too! Explains so much...I am a nursing student and I do have mood swings..lol. I have also always been a very spiritual person. People describe me as mysterious and dark-natured....all in all a very good description of me.

[ConcinusMan]

Are garter snakes sensitive to human's moods?

That's a good question. Definitely can't rule it out. If only snakes could talk. Humans, and all mammals secrete chemicals that change with mood and snakes have very keen olfactory sensitivity. It's definitely possible.


There's also the curiosity factor involved. I know mine seem to enjoy being taken out and handled just because it's a change from their little four-walled world.

Good point. Garters are very intelligent (some more so than others) and inquisitive. Could be the snake doesn't see you as a threat and is just curious about you. Still, it doesn't hurt matters that your hand is warm and comfy.:D

[infernalis]

I'm rather confident about the curiosity, Make whatever you wish of it, but many of mine seem interested in checking out what is going on in the room around them. The little faces peering out of the glass is rather neat to see.

[kibakiba]

I think they can sense emotions, at least in a basic way. Mama's more active when I'm happy, jumpy when I'm angry or upset, calm when I'm in a neutral mood. Snap is wired no matter how I feel... Ember is calm if I'm in a good mood, but wont have anything to do with me if I'm in bad mood... Pumpkin curls up in my hand if I put it in the tank while I'm in a good mood, but avoids me when I'm in a bad mood.