Injury

[MCwyo]

I found this little dude in my back ally. Not a great place for a garter. He's got a kind of funky looking injury on his side I was wondering if there's anything that I can/should do for it before taking him down to the creek and releasing him?


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[guidofatherof5]

Looks like scar tissue and shouldn't need anything.
A little A&D ointment wouldn't hurt before the release.

[MCwyo]

Thanks! I will put a little bit of ointment on him tonight, give him a good meal, and let him go in the morning

[guidofatherof5]

Nice job.

[katach]

I agree. Looks like an old injury. Thanks for caring enough to be concerned about it. Is the creek far from where you found him?

[MCwyo]

No, the creek is not far. It runs just a stones throw from my house (literally). I'm guessing that's where he came from, but he was about a block or so down the ally headed towards the gas station

[katach]

Oh ok.
Maybe he wanted to get a soda or play the lottery.

[MCwyo]

I'm pretty sure he was after a blue raspberry slushy Not natural garter snake prey, but who can blame him when it's almost 100 degrees out?

[MCwyo]

UPDATE: He's back. I saw a garter in my yard under the apple tree and picked it up to have a look. I am 99.9% sure it is Slushy Snake. He looks to have shed and the scar looks much better than it did. It was greenish and almost oozy looking before and now it's a clean smooth gray. However I was very worried to notice that there is a clicking sound when he breathes. I can also feel the click when he is in my hands. I'm wondering if this indicates infection, parasites or a possible internal injury I got him some fresh water and a shady place to rest. Dunno if I should try to help him further or just let him go & let nature decide.

[guidofatherof5]

That clicking sound is probably this glottis as it opens and closes for a breath.
Not a big deal. I have clicky snakes here sometimes.