In the field

[adamanteus]

I would be interested to hear stories (and see pictures) from our American and Canadian friends relating their adventures/experiences collecting Garters in the field. I'm sure other people would also want to read these.

Here in the UK we only have three native snake species , one of which is so rare (Coronella austriaca) that you have more chance of winning the lottery than seeing it in the wild! I have collected our other two species in the past (Natrix natrix helvetica and Vipera berus) but I'm sure that can't compare with the experiences of you people with such a diverse herpetofauna on your doorstep.

So, let's hear your tales!! You tell me yours and I promise I'll collect and photograph the two afore-mentioned species this year for your entertainment!

James.

[Sid]

James,

When I was much younger Eastern Garters T. sirtalis sirtalis were the most common snake I found. Sadly not true today. The following is a list of all South Carolina's snakes. I've added status of what I found field herping in 2006.

Species in SC Observation Status1. Black Rat Snake Elaphe obsoleta obsoletaYes1. Yellow Rat Snake Elaphe obsoleta quadrivittata Yes1. Corn Snake Elaphe guttata guttataYes1. Black Racer Coluber constrictorYes1. Eastern Coachwhip Snake Masticophis flagellum flagellum 1. Eastern King Snake Lampropeltis getula getulaYes1. Mole King Snake Lampropeltis calligaster rhombomaculataYes1. Scarlet King Snake Lampropeltis triangulum elapsoides 1. Pine Snake Pituophis melanoleucus 1. Southern Hognose Snake Heterondon simus 1. Eastern Hognose Snake Heterondon platirhinos Yes1. Eastern Garter Snake Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis Yes1. Eastern Ribbon Snake Thamnophis sauritus sauritus Yes1. Peninsula Ribbon Snake Thamnophis sauritus sackenii 1. Eastern Milk Snake Lampropeltis triangulum triangulum 1. Rough Green Snake Opheodrys aestivus Yes1. Scarlet Snake Cemophora coccinea copei 1. Northern Ringneck Snake Diadophis punctatus edwardsiiYes1. Ringneck Snakes Diadophis punctatuspunctatusYes1. Eastern Worm Snake Carphophis amoenus amoenus Yes1. Brown Snakes Storeria dekayi Yes1. Redbelly Snakes Storeria occipitomaculata YesRough Earth Snake Virginia striatula Eastern Smooth Earth Snake Virginia valeriae valeriae1. Pine Woods Snake Rhadinaea flavilata 1. Southeastern Crowned Snake Tantilla coronata 1. Northern Water Snake Nerodia sipedon sipedon Yes1. Midland Water Snake Nerodia sipedon pleuralis 1. Brown Water Snake Nerodia taxispilota 1. Redbelly Water Snake Nerodia erythrogaster erythrogasterYes1. Banded Water Snake Nerodia fasciata fasciata 1. Florida Green Water Snake Nerodia floridana 1. Queen Snake Regina septemvittata 1. Glossy Crayfish Snake Regina rigida rigida 1. Carolina Swamp Snake Seminatrix pygaea paludis 1. Rainbow Snake Farancia erytrogramma erytrogramma 1. Eastern Mud Snake Farancia abacura abacura 1. Copperhead Snake Agkistrodon contortrixYes1. Cottonmouth Snake Agkistrodon piscivorus 1. Timber Rattlesnake Crotalus horridus horridus 1. Eastern Diamondback Crotalus adamanteus 1. Carolina Pigmy Rattlesnake Sistrurus miliarius miliarius 1. Dusky Pigmy Rattlesnake Sistrurus miliarius barbouri 1. Eastern Coral Snake Micrurus fulvius fulvius

Each speciman has a hyperlink to South Carolinas web site with photos.

Sid

[adamanteus]

Jeez! Sid, you just posted my wish list! There are one or two species on there I've had dealings with Storeria dekayi I've had (and bred), nice snake, and most of the Elaphe. I'm guessing the Copperhead would be A.c.mokasen? I love the Agkistrodon snakes. And of course the Eastern Diamondback...I kept a pair for years and years, my favourite snake...hence my user name!! You must have tales to tell about your adventures hunting these species down?

James.

[GarterGuy]

Ok here's one.....The one pic of the Eastern Garter (T.s.sirtalis) from my T.s.sirtalis gallery...the one from Grubb Lake that's a large close up. Me and my wife were just hiking around the lake for the first time, just a relaxing stroll. There's a 1mile walking/running path around it. Of course I've got the digital with me, never go outside with out it during the warmer months..LOL. As we're walking around, I keep hearing grass rustling just off to the sides of the path. As we keep going along, I see it's garters that are basking on the path and then rushing into the weeds as we approach. I wasn't able to catch, either with hand or lense, any of them 'til we came up to this area where there was a bit of a hill. This one garter took off, but couldn't climb up the hill....so I reach out and grab it. It procedes to shoot backwards over it's self and tries to bite me. I drop it and then quickly grab it again and plop it out on the path. All the while my wife is shrieking...she doesn't mind snakes in cages....but in the wild is different. After being put in the path, the garter just coils up and sits there, waiting for a fight. I clicked off some great pics....and then stepped back and it went on it's way. It was really funny how such a little snake stood it's ground once it was "exposed".....garters really have attitude, just something more to love about them.
Roy

[adamanteus]

Roy,
Nice story, it was good that you were able to get a photo too. This year I'm definately going to collect Natrix natrix helvetica again, hopefully I'll get a couple of pictures of that.

Sid,
Good link, there are some great photos on there! Have you seen the one for Crotalus adamanteus (adult head shot)? Yummy!!

[Gyre]

This summer while I was camping upstate, I came upon a baby melenistic T. stirtalis shedding! Unfortunatly, I didn't grab it, bacause I wasn't positive of the species at the time. I still have the skin, and I only figured the species out thanks to adamanteus's scale count thread. Thanks again.

A few years ago, I also found a huge (at least, 36 inches) female T.stirtalis eating a nest of robin eggs. Nothing fancy, just fun to watch.

[Sid]

James,
My absolute best find last spring and my first find for the year was a 2005 male sirtalis sirtalis. My oldest son had joined me and we had flipped rocks, logs, etc. for a couple of hours and I had totally run out of breath. Ready to give up and head back to the house, we were about to past a large fallen tree in a pasture and decided, one more try!! I cleared the leaf litter from the shady side of the tree to insure we wouldn't be rolling the log onto anything living, then after some effort (a 30 foot long log) we managed to roll it over and there lay "Wiggles" . There's a photo of him in my photo gallery.

Sid

[adamanteus]

Wow. I once had a young Dasypeltis scabra for a very short time.. I thought feeding it would be a problem but I was able to locate a finch breeder who supplied me with eggs for a couple of months.

[adamanteus]

So, I guess Wiggles is a good eater! Judging by the photo. Have you never been tempted to collect venomous species when you come across them, Sid?

[Sid]

James,

I raised five sons and now have seven grandchildren, one of which lives with us. Top that off with the fact my wife is terrified of ANY snake and the answer is no, not really. Have caught some, but don't bring them home to Mama.

My son Jason and I have some trips planned this year for the mountains north of us and the South Carolina and North Carolina coast and I'm sure we will see our share on those trips. Hope to get some good photos of them and will share if we do.

Sid