I have lived here in same house for 4 years and I have searched for garters lots of times. We live right where our backyard is attached to a huge lake and is green and nice and on the other side of the house it is kind of desert. I have never even caught a glimpse of a wild snake. Sadly today I found one, ran over in front of my house What kind of garter was this poor girl?? I think she looks like my Eastern, but we are in Washington. She was big too. Poor thing