Watching the hunt.

[guidofatherof5]

There I was out catching a few worms for my small number of radixes. When, I came across a very young one, on the hunt. My flashlight didn’t seem to bother her as she was on the scent of a worm. I stopped my hunt to observed her. It was the first time I had ever observed one before it caught a worm. Luckily I had a bird’s eye view of the situation and could see she had the scent of a worm. She moved slowly across the ground, her tongue was flicking constantly as it directed her to the prey. As she came up on the worm she pulled her head back in order to strike. When she grabbed the worm, it immediately recoiled back into its hole. Now the little snake had its head partially in the worm hole. The little guy grabbed wildly with its tail for something to hold on to. After finding some grass to use as an anchor she started pulling the worm out of the hole. As she did she worked her jaws from side to side and swallowed the worm. This process continued until the worm was completely out of the hole and in her belly. The whole fight took about 5 minutes. The little scrub pushed the worm down, then seemed to rest and regroup. Then it was off to find another worm. I didn’t waste anytime and offered a worm from my bucket. She gladly took it and down it went. I was so impressed with this one I took her in the house. Turns out she’s the little “extra spots” I posted about. I am completely amazed by these radixes. Many people sit and watch fish to relax. I on the other hand can sit and watch my radi for hours and get the same results. Great thing about garters, you can take them out and interact with them. We’ll I guest you can do the same thing with fish but it’s just not the same.

[Thamnophis Man]

Amazing! When they are determined they are determined. They don't stop until they have what they want. It's also easy to underestimate their strength. I even have a tough time pulling a worm out of its hole without ripping it in half.

[wolfpacksved]

anything in the saliva that numbs the crawlers up ? or just good ole' fashion jaw muscle power?

[guidofatherof5]

anything in the saliva that numbs the crawlers up ? or just good ole' fashion jaw muscle power?

Great question. From what I understand Garters do have a mild vemon in there saliva. People with allergic reactions to bee stings shouldn't let a garter snake chew them. This may be mild to us but to the prey it may be different. I remember reading some of this, I just can't remember the particulars.
Dang fifty year old brain. The memory is just not what it used to be.
What were we talking about

[Stefan-A]

Great question. From what I understand Garters do have a mild vemon in there saliva.

Well, yes, it does end up in their saliva. But it is secreted separately.

[count dewclaw]

People with allergic reactions to bee stings shouldn't let a garter snake chew them.

I could be wrong, but I think they only used bee stings as an analogy. I think the venom is different, so just because you are allergic to bee stings does not automatically make you allergic to garter snake venom. I'll see if I can find out for sure....

[Sputnik]

I seem to remember us having this discussion before. I think the conclusion was, that while some people have a reaction to the venom similar to that after a bee sting, that comparision was merely used to describe the severity of the possible reaction. The venom itself is different and so wouldn't automatically pose a particular danger to people with bee sting allergies. I have a nasty allergy to wasp stings (which of course is different again to bee sting allergies) but when my garter bit me a couple of years ago, all I could feel was a slight itch half an hour or so later.

[Thamnophis Man]

Interesting! I never knew they had a mild venom. Cool!

[Snake lover 3-25]

wow neat