Doesn't blue red-sided garters sound like infernalis or San Frans? Anyway....it's not necessarily terrible to take home a snake from the wild. Most of us have done it. People have different views on it. I think herping is an awesome hobby and a great way to enjoy nature and see the beautiful snakes you have in your area. Always know which venomous snakes are in your area though and how to identify them...that is my rule of thumb for herping. My view on taking snakes from the wild is that there has to be a balance...we can't just pluck all the snakes we wish from the wild and take them home...not good for the snakes...not good for the environment. But I never judge someone who finds a lovely snake and chooses to keep it...as long as it isn't federally protected. I personally use the philosophy that if the snake seems like it would be better where I found it in the wild, I leave it be. If there is a reason the snake would not do well where it is...danger of being killed, or injury and so forth...I take it home. Considering the fact that we can get CB snakes pretty readily on here...I try not to take them out of the wild if I don't have to. Four of mine were WC...two I rescued from bad situations and one was from an expo, one is from a friend.