Birth Control -- Prevent Unwanted Breeding

[guidofatherof5]

Now of course if someone was gathering up lots of wild garters to sell that would be another story and I would hope the Fish and Game folks would take an interest and protect our native species.

I'm afraid that in most cases garter snakes are on the bottom of the list when it comes to any enforcement or special considerations/protection.

[kibakiba]

One thing I have to say...
Garters aren't hatched, really, they give live birth.

[Sonya610]

One thing I have to say...
Garters aren't hatched, really, they give live birth.

True, the eggs are internal. So do you call the females carrying babies gravid or pregnant?

Perhaps the point was to correct the newbie. Point taken.

[kibakiba]

They're gravid, though around people I know in real life, they get overly confused about my use of the word "gravid" even after explaining it, so I just say "she's going to have babies"

I meant nothing by it, just a little correction.

[ConcinusMan]

I am not the slightest bit concerned about it. I live in the country where the Fish and Game wardens are busy catching poachers and other nere-do-wells, they sure as heck aren't gonna care if some woman wants to keep one little captive bred pet garter snake hatched in another state!

Wanna bet? in many cases, they are more concerned about that, than if you were to catch a wild local garter and keep it. Often times, they would rather you do the latter. Seriously. In fact, that's how it is in California.(and a lot of other states) It's illegal to import captive bred animals that are native to California. That includes garter snakes. It's also illegal to buy, sell, or even breed native reptiles. However, it's perfectly legal to collect many of them, including garter snakes, from the wild and keep them as pets or export them. You are not allowed to breed buy or sell native garter snakes. You are only allowed to collect them from the wild if you want to keep them as pets. And don't even get me started on the expense and red tape it would take to import an animal legally into California. In many cases, it's not the dept. of wildlife you need to worry about. It's the dept of agriculture.

Now of course if someone was gathering up lots of wild garters to sell that would be another story and I would hope the Fish and Game folks would take an interest and protect our native species.

Like Steve was saying, enforcement is nearly non existent. They couldn't care less about protecting most garter snakes. It's not even illegal to "gather up lots of wild garters to sell" in many states and even in those where it is illegal, they don't have the manpower, budget or inclination to even enforce it. All they hear is "garter snake" and it goes to the bottom of the list of their concerns, and they rarely bother to do anything about it.

[ConcinusMan]

One thing I have to say...
Garters aren't hatched, really, they give live birth.

Of course they hatch. You've seen it yourself. Just because mom doesn't lay the eggs until they are ready to hatch, doesn't mean they don't hatch. They do!

And to answer the other question, it is technically incorrect to say a reptile is "pregnant". That is a term which is meant for placental mammals. Reptiles, even live bearers, are technically not pregnant. They are simply carrying eggs so the term "gravid" applies. Snakes do not get "pregnant" but nobody is going to come down on you if you want to call them pregnant. We know what you mean.

[kibakiba]

You kept correcting me when I said I thought Mama was pregnant and gave me a mini lecture. And maybe so, but it just sounds weird saying a garter is hatched, to me. It might not to you but garters and hatching doesn't click in my mind.

[ConcinusMan]

No, we don't actually say that do we? We don't say they're hatched, even though they are. You're right. We say they are born. But Chantel, It really doesn't bother me if someone says their garter snake is pregnant. It's not technically correct, but it doesn't actually bother me.

[Sonya610]

And don't even get me started on the expense and red tape it would take to import an animal legally into California.

LOL. Yes I know, a California native here. California is rather fanatical about "some" legal issues, and turns a blind eye towards others.

There is a reason I chose to move to Georgia! Great gun laws, your dog can eat as many tresspassing children as they like without consequence (as long as they were tresspassing on your property) and the good old boys don't mess with private citizens unless there is a complaint. Our Ag Department can be a royal pain too, but I have no reason to deal with them, no need for a permit.

[RdubSnider]

Well I would think about getting a redsided garter. There legal in Your state. They have that beautiful red color and for a normal one its not going to cost you a high amount of money.