My wife and I (o.k. mainly I) decided to go "hunt" for some garters on a river I fish from tme to time. I had seen one there a number of years ago and thought it was the perfect spot. Just two minutes or so from where we parked we saw the first snake. Just a little guy, maybe 6 inces long. Then as we quietly released him I heard a rustle, then a pause. My eyes quickly focused on the most uniqe looking garter we had ever seen...


I have never seen a coloration like this in the wild before...

His belly was a little more fluorescent and the grey was some what rusty...

There was also a fine red "pin stripe" running along each band...
He was a difficult catch, with many failed attempts, but in the end was worth it!!!