Albino Garter snake FOUND IN NW OREGON!

[ConcinusMan]

Forgive my oversight. Welcome Jungletrunk. Good to have another from the Portland, OR metro area.

I am very interested to hear any details you might recall of the albino you found. When, where, etc.

I now feel it's OK to reveal where this particular albino was found. It was found between the Willamette river near Champoeg State park and the town of Sherwood as the crow flies. Not very specific but that general area.

Seems that this area of Oregon, northward to the Columbia river is home to more than one very interesting and "new" garter snake morph.

I think next year I'll try my luck at Forest Park and see what I can turn up there.

[Floof]

I just came across and read through this thread. The new morph is awesome... But how horrible that such a disgusting person was the one to find it.

Has anything happened since with the albino garter? Any news? Or did the guy just fall off the map?

Here's hoping you have a little bit of good news to throw our way...

[ConcinusMan]

Oh hey now, we're not here to judge another person although being how we're all people, it's difficult to resist judging one another. This is not a thread to bash the guy who found it. Just expressing disappointment due to a lack of cooperation and similar goals.

This gives me an opportunity to clear the air after some time has passed. This not a new morph at all. Other albino T. ordinoides were found before this one, and it's not impossible to imagine another will found again. This one is simply the only one known in existence currently and so I may have got a bit passionate about it's discovery.

I'd love to see the T- recessive amelanistic allele make it into some bloodlines if any breeders choose this species to create with but that's the problem- practically nobody does.

You got me: wanting to make redder Northwestern's. You got a guy with an albino. Not many others looking to explore the potential of this species. If my goals and the guy with the albino... well... if we had some support, and a couple of breeders and commitment... I just think we could make something as awesome as an eastern "flame" and perhaps make an albino high red northwestern. It's not out of the realm of reality.

There are pivotal moments when minds with like goals get together and each happens to hold the key to greater creativity and possibly future garter snake morphs. This isn't one of those times. The guy holds the albino, for whatever his reasons are.

Myself and others familiar with this species and willing to pursue breeding projects are in no position to pay what this guy is asking. All we can ask then is support. Support like Flicker has given.

If someone wants to keep that 100% homozygous albino T. ordinoides all to himself without ever passing on that amelanistic gene... well that is true selfishness since he has to give up practically nothing but a successful mating with another captive female.

I know, seems simple enough and yet... I'm off to poke things with a stick since this doesn't seem to be going anywhere.

[HazAnga]

I agree that maybe you shoulda just told him it was something different and that if he has no intention on keeping it that you'll give him $50 and be on your seperate ways.
And as for this dummy who thinks he knows the laws of herping and reptiles etc... your ******** and need to do some more homework. Yes laws change from place to place, but as for the "they were illigally caught in the first place" comment. Well pretty sure that most places allow the keeping of native garters as long as a hunting licence is owned. Hence "herp HUNTING".
But that's my opinion.

[ConcinusMan]

No. I was totally honest with the guy. I don't tell someone that it's "something different" than what I think it is and certainly wouldn't tell him it's something I know it isn't.

It's a darn Thamnophis ordinoides. It's also the only albino t. ordinoides know to currently exist in captivity. I'd like to see it contribute to producing CB offspring. somehow this guy took that to mean it's worth a gazillion dollars.

The guy is under the impression that he found the "fountain of youth" and that everyone is trying to take it from him for less than it's worth. therefore it gets hidden away, never to be utilized at all.

The harder you try to get cooperation, the harder the resistance. Not much I can do in that case I'm afraid. It's like trying to create peace in the Middle East.

[Floof]

My apologies for the harsh "judgment" of the man who found the snake. I guess I don't take kindly to people who would rather see an animal die than get less than what he thinks it's worth.

Regardless, it's truly a shame he still isn't cooperating, but it's at least good to know that other snakes like it do, or, at least, have existed, as it holds hope for this gene's likelihood to be passed on and cultivated.

Thanks for the update, even if there wasn't much to share on the matter.

[fish_4_all]

I am not getting into ethics, just posting what I found:
http://www.dfw.state.or.us/OARs/44.pdf
There is more info there. #56 discusses the sale of native and non native species.
Need more clarrification, call 503-947-6308, he is the one who told me the laws. All of them are pretty much exactly the same for Washington for those that want to know.

I hope the sanke is taken care of, regardless of by whom. If the one who found it will take care of it then great. If they don't intend on doing so then it needs to get to someone who will or be released.

As far as the rarity of them, my kids saw at least 4 albinos this summer. Where they westerns who knows, could have been checkered, reds or yellows. All of them live the exact same spot right by my house. If they catch one on a sunny day I will try to find out what species they are.