My neighbors are away untill spring

[Chulio]

Hi
I am new to the forum.
I have been seeing these two snakes since their first year.
Everyday unless it is raining.
We never have had a mouse in the house either with these two paroling the perimeter. This year there were about 4 babies that made it to winter.
Does anybody know what kind of garters these are. The babies are blacker with more contrast too.

[Stefan-A]

Welcome aboard.

It would be good to know the location, but they look like common garters, Thamnophis sirtalis.

[guidofatherof5]

Nice to have you on the forum.
You have some nice looking neighbors. I hope you get to see them this Spring.

[drache]

welcome to the forum, Chulio
I'd love some neighbours like those

[Odie]

Hi, from Oregon, Chulio
I'd love some neighbours like those too

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

They are almost definitely eastern garters, thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis, but the last pictured one stretching out has a very barred neck which is typical of the Chicago garter... but I know that easterns in other parts of the country with barred necks are not unheard of!

[Chulio]

I live in south eastern Wi. Southwest of Milwaukee and 75 miles from Chicago.

They live under my first section on my sidewalk out my front door.
The little ones scoot back under if they see me but the bigger snakes only did that the first year now they sit there. I can even spray them softly with the hose and they seem to like it. The cement section has dropped 3 inches on one end and it created the perfect home.

Thanks

[Mommy2many]

Welcome to the forum! Nice neighbors, quiet, on patrol!

[jitami]

Very cool. Those are my kind of neighbors! Welcome to the forum

[ConcinusMan]

They are almost definitely eastern garters, thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis, but the last pictured one stretching out has a very barred neck which is typical of the Chicago garter... but I know that easterns in other parts of the country with barred necks are not unheard of!

D'OH! I could have sworn they were T. elegans. I mean, they are so robust, and that defense...

Wouldn't be the first time I was wrong. I took a guess without knowing where they were found though. If I knew that they were found in the eastern portion of the US, I would surely have to re-think my ID. Oh well. I occasionally get one right. I swear I can find pics of T. elegans that dang near match to a "T" but Shannon says T. s. sirtalis, and I can see that in the white "dashes" but I could probably find a T. elegans from the west that would make you do a double-take on that ID if they were side-by-side.

Great pics either way, and admirable snakes. I like their confidence and "spunk" and besides that, they're garters. What's not there to admire.