Morphs/Species In/At Same Locations

[Garter_Gertie]

Okay, all you far more geekier garteroids than I. I need your expertise.

Shannon said in another thread she found a such-and-such in the same place she'd found a such-and-such. Is this, finding different morphs - or species?, in the same place common?

To better explain that, is it possible that I'll find different variations of the Eastern garter at the park? (If I go skulking, which I'm gonna do because I'm SO TIRED reading about you guys FINDING all these snakes and I want to find some, too!) Like different colors and stuff? Or will they all be like Winnie?

Or is this something that's not known until someone actually *does* it and documents it?

Are my chances good of finding different 'colors' (for lack of a better word)?

THANKS!

[infernalis]

No two garters look exactly the same, so finding different ones is in your favor for sure there.

"Morphs" is just a fancy word to differentiate from "Normal"

I kinda like the word, it's almost sci fi "Captain the planet is overrun by morphs!"

The only way you will ever know if that rock has a green or a red or a white garter snake under it is to flip it over and look.

Now on the other hand, there may be a milk snake, rattlesnake, copperhead or moccasin under there insead.........

I am not trying to scare you Gertie, honest I'm not... All kidding aside, take an old ski pole or a golf club with you, gently use the stick to lift the rock, log or debris, that way if it is something besides a garter under there, you have your distance.

Other small species that are common to find, Red Belly snakes and my personal favorite Dekay Brown Snakes.

Red Belly snakes are really difficult to keep long term, so much that we let ours go, she was miserable in captivity and it tore me up to see her so sad and frumpy all the time..

Dekays, well they make super pets, they have all kinds of personality, small in size, cute and mine seem to be just fine in captivity.

Now go forth, flip over everything in sight, and be sure to tell us all about what you found...

[Garter_Gertie]

Dirty Rotten Dekay To Whom I Am NOT Speaking:

Here in MN, in this part, garters, red bellies, and I think DeKays. There are NO (but for you know, the Hoggies, but they're not REALLY posinous) posinous snakes in this part o'MN. There are in the very way far south eastern part along the Mississippi bluffs - timber rattlers and massaugas - but both are RARE.

Just bulls, garters, red bellies, Eastern Hoggies, Dekays (I think...)... Am I forgetting anything? NOTHING that can hurt me! A snakeoid's dream! Oh! Green snakes.

[Garter_Gertie]

P.S. You'd think on 6,767 acres I'd be able to find SOMETHING different. Don't you think?

[infernalis]

It would stand to reason, I find something different under the same board, on the same day, so with that kind of spread, I'd wager that there are some very special animals to be found.

Oh and by the way, I'm not replying to you either

[stonyloam]

Hi Gertie, just a word of caution, we do not use the term "poisonous snakes" here, we use the term "venomous snakes", the latter term is more scientifically accurate, and the former term has been known to greatly upset some of the "geekier garteroids" (we all know who they are).

[infernalis]

I was going to make a tasty snake stew once, but alas my intended meal was poisonous

[Garter_Gertie]

Hi Gertie, just a word of caution, we do not use the term "poisonous snakes" here, we use the term "venomous snakes", the latter term is more scientifically accurate, and the former term has been known to greatly upset some of the "geekier garteroids" (we all know who they are).

Oh.

Loamy, thanks. I don't want to offend anyone. I'm glad you told me that.

I will try and remember vemonus. I've already said I can't spell it because I can't pronouce it!

My apologies to the geekiest of geeky garteroids.

Again, thanks much, Loamy.

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

Garters are infinitely variable. In my own back yard, I have found ones with stripes, no stripes, yellows, oranges, a female with a black head I have right now, it never ends!

Wha I was referring to, is that I actually found two genetically different than normal population snakes in the same area. My hypo, and my erythristic. An erythristic garter is one that has a LOT of red, all over it's body. They differ from flaes in that they don't have that bright white stripe and their red isnt just limited to the sides of them, its on their face, their belly, its everywhere! Mine happens to be a very dark rusty red. The other 20 + garters I found there were all "normal" so to speak, but each one was still different. The third week of july, I will be away herping in the mountains where I usually find some gorgeous garters, especially these ones with peach colored faces! I cannot wait to document my finds!

[Garter_Gertie]

I'd also like to reiterate, whatever I find I cannot keep as it is a state park. I will be able to 'keep' through to Sunday so we can use it in the snake program, but then I have to let it go. And Dave makes me put back anjamuls in the exact place I found them - even if I find them OUTSIDE the park.

Only reason I got to keep Winnie is because they're "a dime a dozen," and we, as a state park, do have a 'permit,' and she is a good contrast to Ripley, the bull snake. But Winnie is my limit for true 'keepers.'