So my mind got to ticking... Why are there so many garters in the one small area I herp? They defy traffic, human disruption, and gravity *always at the crest of the hill* for one thing: food. A further examination of the area reveals the following:
Amphibians- N/A. No breeding pools, no population.
Fish- N/A Local river high in metals, low count of small fish but high in junk fish too large for garter consumption.
Worms- ... Plentiful.
So I did a quick herping *worming, I should say. :P* trip to the area and dug up some leaves from the forest floor. Bingo. A species of worm I'd never seen before. Most specimens were large; 3+ inches. And the catchy trait; The squirm and wiggle, like a salamander, often dropping a fraction of their tail. I collected a sustainable amount from 2 areas both only 1 square yard; A total of 300 worms, mainly 3+ inches. After doing some research, I discovered that the worms in the great lake's basin are actually "exotic" invasions from Europe that are destroying our forests. *Mhm, chya right.* So I wondered if this food was garter gold... So I tried it on Fatty, who's in shed. One down. Tried it on her sister. Two down. Que the same situation with every other garters I own, even the ribbon sucked one down! Gentlemen, and ladies, I believe I have discovered one of the best foods for garters. I snapped a few photos of the specimens I found and sent them to a laboratory in the UK to be pinpointed as to the exact species. The person who does the ID's is out until the 14th, so we will have to wait for him to return for the exact identity. As soon as I get the culture going and find out exact care requirements, I will offer them for sale. This has to be one of the best discoveries to date! A worm with the attitude of the red wiggler, the size of a nightcrawler, and the flavor of the garden dew worm. What more could you ask for?