Just caught today

[brain]

Not too common, at least not around here. There's nothing as sweet as when they are lookers AND adapt and eat well.

I caught one just like this last year but wouldn't eat. They seem to be picky in captivity. I let it go for that reason.

[ConcinusMan]

Yeah it's been hit and miss. I've been catching and trying them out periodically but it sure doesn't work out very often. When it does though, they turn out to be really charming snakes that eat with gusto. These two have decent body mass so I have a few weeks to get them eating. If they don't eat after about 3 weeks I'll take them back and release them where I found them.

[brain]

I was going to the wood shed for a piece of cedar and almost stepped on this girl







I'm thinkin gravid ... i haven't weighted her but the length os about 18-20 inches and about 3/4" around.
Shes calming down now and had abath along with a good drink of water.

[guidofatherof5]

Beautiful girl.

[kibakiba]

Wow, she's the perfect shade of blue. I'm in love!

[ConcinusMan]

Gorgeous Puget. Very nice! Awesome contrast and just little pinpoints of red. I like it!

And just for the benefit of other readers that might not be clued in, this is a Puget Sound Garter Snake. Thamnophis sirtalis pickeringi.

A subspecies of "common garter snake". This subspecies is native only to the Puget Sound region of WA State and coastal British Columbia, Canada.

Doesn't matter to me what color phase this subspecies comes as, they are all darn pretty snakes!

[katach]

Very pretty!

[ConcinusMan]

Yeah, what she said. ^^^

[brain]

Yea, I was planning on a trip Anacortes this weekend around Lake Eire and Pass lake maybe do some kayaking and herping. However, she was “right at my back door to boot”. Sorry Steve I stole that
If she does not eat in a few days out, she goes back under the woodshed.
And yes very little red spots. At first I thought it was one of my other snakes, but nope. Made my day

[ConcinusMan]

A few days? C'mon Michael. You underestimate them. She could easily go a month. If you really want her, 4 weeks chance to eat isn't too long. It's up to you of course and there's always next year!

Made my day too. By far one of the best WC I've seen in weeks. Not to discredit some very fine northwesterns that have been posted lately, but I'm a sucker for certain T. sirtalis' and that's a darn fine one.

I've "been there, done that" on lots of very photogenic WC snakes. If all that happens is a few weeks in captivity, and lots of photos, then that is a gift in itself and good enough!

Thanks for the effort and sharing! I know what it takes and it is appreciated.