Interesting behavior....

[ssssnakeluvr]

That's really neat! So this isn't a normal behavior when eating live mice? How do they typically dispatch of live mice?

it's not real common, mainly seen in ones that feed on a lot of wild mice. garters just grab their prey and eat them alive. wandering garters have the Duvornoy's gland (gland that produces venom), but only a mild one, acts as a tranquilizer on mice, calming them down so the snake can eat them easier.

[Stefan-A]

edit: I'm deleting the contents of this post, because I was probably either talking out of my *** or remembering the effects of a specific component of garter venom that may not be present in sufficient quantities to cause what I was referring to earlier.

However, I found this.

Journal of Herpetology, Vol. 21, No. 1, pp. 81-83, 1987
Copyright 1987 Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles

The Myonecrotic Effect of Duvernoy's
Gland Secretion of the Snake
Thamnophis elegans vagrans

DAVID W. JANSEND, epartment of Zoology Basic Medical
Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington
99164-4220, USA

The muscle cells at the injection sites of Duvernoy's
gland secretion showed widespread rhabdomyodegeneration
and necrosis. This is characterized
by kinking of the muscle fibers and by areas of vac-uolation within fibers (Fig. 1). There was a readily
apparent loss of striation, with hemorrhagic damage
as well, and many polymorphonuclear leukocytes
were present between the muscle fibers. None of these
pathological changes was detected in either control
group. Striations were present and uninterrupted, and
the muscle cells were entire, with no evidence of
vacuolation or kinking.

[EasternGirl]

Yes...they all have the gland. I am currently reading a book by O'Shea. The book is on venomous snakes...but he discusses how garters can actually be classified as venomous...although harmless...because of the gland. Plus, I remember reading articles on here about it. Makes them that much cooler in my opinion.

[-MARWOLAETH-]

Are vagrans more likely to prey on mice in the wild than other species?

[Stefan-A]

Since I haven't seen any comprehensive stomach contents studies for Thamnophis, I'm going to have to guess and say yes and speculate that T. sirtalis is not far behind.

[ssssnakeluvr]

Are vagrans more likely to prey on mice in the wild than other species?

yes, most garters are found in or around water (lakes, ponds, streams). wanderings can be found all over in areas with no water close, hence the name wandering garters. the girl in the pic eats only live mice... won't touch fish or worms.