Found an Eastern Garter

[svcta]

Hello, all,
I found a nice sized garter snake (rather, my girlfriend did) on my sidewalk tonight. I live in Birmingham, AL and it's cold here right now so this little guy should be brumating somewhere I would assume.

Question: What should I do with him? He was so cold he couldn't move to get away from me when I picked him up and I've got him in a box right now in my house. Is it too late for him to find a good place to spend the winter? Or should I turn him loose and let nature do its thing? He looks like he just molted because his colors are quite bright and there is a tiny bit of skin still hanging on around his head. All in all he looks pretty darn healthy.

Thanks for any input.

[guidofatherof5]

If you turn it loose in an unfamiliar area it will not have time to find an appropriate place to brumate. They are very easy to care for and a lot of fun. If you have a safe place to brumate you could also do that.
Nature can be rather brutal sometimes. Let nature be brutal in the Spring if that's what she(nature) wants to do. Please thank your girlfriend from me for giving the snake a chance. We would love to see a photo if you would please post one.

I'm not familiar with Alabama winter but they can't be as long or as cold as in Iowa. Should be a shorter brumation and not as much cold needed. She may just take a month off food and then start eating again.
Best of luck. Keep us informed

[wolfpacksved]

Opinions will vary. But here's what I would do: I find a snake on a cold day. I hold on to the animal until the next warm spell (say 60 F degrees) which hopefully it isn't too far` off. Provided the snake has good body weight and looks healthy, I would release it where I found it. Naturally, many factors could play into as to why the snake was found stranded on a cold day. It could be injured for all I know. If the cold persists, well then I have a pet snake until spring. Good luck.

[guidofatherof5]

Opinions will vary. But here's what I would do: I find a snake on a cold day. I hold on to the animal until the next warm spell (say 60 F degrees) which hopefully it isn't too far` off. Provided the snake has good body weight and looks healthy, I would release it where I found it. Naturally, many factors could play into as to why the snake was found stranded on a cold day. It could be injured for all I know. If the cold persists, well then I have a pet snake until spring. Good luck.

Good policy
My problem is, I fall in love with them and they become family. Rotten little scrubs. They know all the buttons to push.

[ConcinusMan]

Lol. ^^^ But yeah, there's a number of reasons the snake got caught out in the cold. I have found live ordinoides on the surface when it was below freezing in the middle of Dec. Since there were so many rodent burrows around (voles) in the area, I concluded that the snakes had been "evicted" from their burrows. I would not release that snake unless you have a forecast that calls for at least 5 days of temps in the upper 50's or warmer. Best bet is to keep him inside until weather allows for enough movement/finding food. That's what I would do. Don't worry about having perfect housing or light or heat sources. Any escape-proof well ventilated container, a water dish, newspaper bottom, a hide spot, and mere room temperatures and he'll be better off than he would if you put him back outside in cold weather. But be warned: you might fall in love and be "stuck" with your snake. Either way, that's OK too.

[drache]

sound advice above
welcome to the forum
thanks for caring for the chilly snake

[brubru2]

I say keep the little guy!

[Odie]

Hi, from Oregon, svcta

As you can see some want another garter caregiver

[svcta]

Thanks, everyone, for all the encouragement. I'm second guessing my I.D. job at this point because the little guy has such bold pattern around his midsection, more like a Texas Garter Snake than an eastern. Having fun with him, though. I think I'll keep him around until a nice warm stretch and turn him back in to the yard. I'll take some pics soon and post them somewhere.

[ConcinusMan]

The only other snake I can think of in Alabama that might be mistaken for a garter would be a brown snake.(DeKay's) Sometimes they can look very much like a garter. But even if it was a Texas garter snake, it's still the same species as your original ID. Thamniphis sirtalis.