The snakes are out!!!!

[anji1971]

Anji, would u be able to do some more close up pics, maybe outside in some better light, pay attention to head and side of the body then post for another look before u let it go..................

I had already planned to do that, Justin!
And I don't intend to let him go until I talk to the people at the Nature Center, and see if they can confirm it as well. As far as I recall, the Ojibway Nature Center is the only place right in Windsor known to have a population of Butler's, so if my find can help protect them in a new area, I want to be able to do that.

[enigma200316]

from the pic you have where the snake is around your hand I think its the 2 or 3 pic of the newer ones, where mid body is around your hand which is where you are suppose to count, unless I'm seeing it wrong i'm only seeing the line on rows 2 and 3 which says Eastern, and I think anyway looking at it that it is just a nicely chocolate Eastern, but get them pics and ask those people and keep us updated..........

[enigma200316]

Sorry Anji, I now think you deff. have a butlers here is a link to a pic of a butlers that looks identical to yours hope you can get there and see it..
www.bgsu.edu/departments/biology/facilities/herp/caresheetpages/butlersgart.html

[anji1971]

Sorry Anji, I now think you deff. have a butlers here is a link to a pic of a butlers that looks identical to yours hope you can get there and see it..
www.bgsu.edu/departments/biology/facilities/herp/caresheetpages/butlersgart.html

Thanks, Justin. I did find the link, and noticed the mention about the thrashing motion they make when excited. He does that too, when I startle him.

[enigma200316]

sorry to be the barer of bad news Anji, but I would deff. say its a butlers now, but what you do is your choice...........

[adamanteus]

u could even get another butler (secretly) of the opposite sex and breed them and release the babies into your backyard to help repopulate them

Obviously this would be a very bad idea. Butlers are protected for very good reasons. If every one who loved Garters collected 'just two' the species would be decimated.
If it is indeed a Butlers, at least you know where to go to observe them in the wild.... and you can always take loads of photos before you release it.

[Stefan-A]

Obviously this would be a very bad idea. Butlers are protected for very good reasons. If every one who loved Garters collected 'just two' the species would be decimated.

Well, it's not a great idea to collect wild animals to begin with, whether or not they're protected. But it is especially bad when they are.

[Zephyr]

You could get a permit Anji. I'm sure a catch-breed-release deal could be negotiated with the government.

[Stefan-A]

I wouldn't be so sure, governments rarely negotiate with citizens.

[anji1971]

Well, I talked to a man at the Nature Center, who seemed quite happy to think that I may have found a Butler's on the other end of town! I'm going to email him some pics, and I also directed him to this forum, so he can look at the ones I've already posted.
If it turns out that his ID is confirmed, then Twister will be returned home on the weekend, and I will pray that measures will be taken to protect the area I found him in, so we can hope to someday see many more of his kind!
I've gotten over the initial disappointment of having to let him go, in fact, I'm kind of hoping I've discovered something great over at that little pond..........