Garter Field Pics - summer 2009

[Steven@HumboldtHerps]

Every once in a while I actually find the time to post some of my field pics on the forum. Here are some of the garters I discovered during this summer's wanderings...


Valley Garter (T. s. fitchi) Demartin/Wilson Creek area, Del Norte County
(May 5, 2009)


T. sirtalis (fitchi/infernalis intergrade zone) Elk Camp Prairie, Bald Hills,
Redwood National Park, Humboldt County (May 19, 2009)


Coast Garter (T. e. terrestris) [inland brown variant close to terrestris and elegans intergrade zone] Bald Hills, RNP, Humboldt Co. (June 15, 2009)


T. elegans (terrestris/elegans intergrade zone) Coyote Creek, Bald Hills, Redwood National Park, Humboldt County (June 18, 2009)


Northwestern Garter (T. ordinoides) [brown, near patternless variant] Little Bald Hills, RNSP, Del Norte County (June 25, 2009)

[Steven@HumboldtHerps]

Oregon Garter (T. a. hydrophilus)[spotted/striped variant] New River, Denny, Trinity County (July 11, 2009)


Valley Garter (T. s. fitchi)[ecdysis] Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, Del Norte County (July 23, 2009)

[ssssnakeluvr]

Valley Garter (T. s. fitchi)[ecdysis] Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, Del Norte County (July 23, 2009)

awesome pics! love this large fitchi!!!!!

[Steven@HumboldtHerps]

awesome pics! love this large fitchi!!!!!

I believe she was quite gravid!

[Steven@HumboldtHerps]

The only snake I kept was the Mountain neonate ("Blacky"). This little one is feeding on chorus frog metamorphs and trout filet. It apparently also ate a baby fence lizard kept with it during transport from the river (Will I ever learn?).

I am very excited that my elegans is taking trout so voraciously. Western terrestrials are known for taking very small rodents, lizards, snakes, and yes, they love the froggies too, but they are less known for going after fish. So, yes, I am excited to explore this opportunistic behavior further. This snake was found in the same habitat as many of the hydrophilus pics I post. I have never been able to feed my hydrophilus ("Lefty" - the one-eyed garter) anything other than fish and frogs.

[jitami]

I am very excited that my elegans is taking trout so voraciously. Western terrestrials are known for taking very small rodents, lizards, snakes, and yes, they love the froggies too, but they are less known for going after fish.

For what it's worth I fed my, then yearling, elegans exclusively rosey red feeder fish when I first got him. Back then they were thought to be safe. I switched him to pinkies with very little effort later that year, but he and my (wild caught as an adult) female will both still take live fish on occasion. They do prefer rodents, tho

[guidofatherof5]

Great looking snakes and really nice photos.

[charles parenteau]

Awesome pictures !!!great find .

[jitami]

Love this snake! The little ordinoides, too! Did you keep either? I'd be curious to see how the ordinoides develops.

[Steven@HumboldtHerps]

Love this snake! The little ordinoides, too! Did you keep either? I'd be curious to see how the ordinoides develops.

I do not currently have an ordinoides, and many of the pics I have taken are of specimens found throughout the Redwood National and State Park system, so there are no takes allowed.

I do hope to acquire some Northwesterns next spring; looking for the "red magentas."

Stay tuned; got more pics on the way.