For many years I've owned a copy of what I like to call "The Garter Snake Bible" I'm talking about "The Garter Snakes-Evolution and Ecology" by Rossman, Ford and Seigel.
Thousands of times I've picked it and used it but never really paid much attention to the cover.
Yes, I've looked at it but only now realized how special it is.
Think about it. They could have used a bright shinning T. s. tetrataenia(San Francisco Garter Snake) or maybe an awesome T.radix(Plains Garter Snake).
Instead they blessed the book cover with a beautiful T.ordinoides (Northwestern Garter Snake)
I would love to know the story behind that decision.
What's kind of funny is the fact that the Northwestern garter snake is probably the most unappreciated of all the garter species but yet it's on the cover of the premiere garter snake book.
I keep Northwesterns and find them to be awesome snakes. I did have trouble with my first group of babies but still think they are well worth the effort.
They are smaller then most other garters but make up for that with an awesome attitude.
I guess the reason for this thread was to shine a little light on a snake that doesn't get much of it, even among us keepers.

This is for all those Northwestern garters out there.