cut/sore

[Snake lover 3-25]

no idea..... but they can live 10 yrs or longer in captivity...... sizes....... dont know if there are average sizes... but i have a 20" female..... little on the small side, and a 32" female who is a little on the large side.... males are usually around 20" you can use the snake measurer, it's the first link on google

[wolfess]

Snake lover 3-25,
they can live 10 yrs or longer in captivity -- I hope that means Beelzebel will be arnd awhile longer -- she's not in captivity but I think she's been in my yard long enuf to know how to stay safe and aside from Frodo and the mower there isn't any real danger.
Wolfess

[infernalis]

However lifespan is greatly reduced in the wild.

Captive animals do not have to cope with huger, predators, flash flooding, autos, man, drought or disease.

Wild garters breed in such mass numbers to ensure that the species will survive with high mortality rates.

The more urban the surroundings, the more likely Man will be the biggest influence on lifespan be it intentionally or unintentionally.

To "replace" one garter snake in the wild population takes 2 years, sadly a good number never see maturity to reproduce.

Here in New York State, it is illegal to capture, kill or otherwise molest a rattlesnake, That species take 10 years to replace. (based on data from an animal planet special, feel free to correct if misinformed)

So the captive animals in properly maintained collections are very lucky snakes!!!

[Stefan-A]

Wild garters breed in such mass numbers to ensure that the species will survive

It's the other way around. The species survives because they breed in mass numbers.