Mixing species?

[RedSidedSPR]

True dat. My thoughts exactly.

[Spankenstyne]

I remember reading a report a couple of years ago about a den of Red-Siders being relocated due to construction or the like. Some scientists took it as an opportunity to study the relocated snakes, most of which were taken to dens a good distance away and tagged. The following year, they managed to locate close to 70% of the relocated snakes. Not only were they still alive, but they had acclimated to the new dens very nicely. What happened to the other 30%? Who knows? Possibly natural predation or natural death, possibly some simply weren't found for whatever reason. Still, with a 70% chance not only of survival, but of being located the following year, that's not bad at all.

Here's an interesting pdf regarding relocating wild garters to another den site. The natural return rates to the winter dens seem to normally be about 32% according to this study (32.5% in this study) & the introduced tagged population had a similar rate at 30%. Perhaps you had those percentages mixed up?

http://www.srd.alberta.ca/Biodiversi...arterSnake.pdf

Shows that relocation can be doable under the right conditions.

[Spankenstyne]

Here's an interesting pdf regarding relocating wild garters to another den site. The natural return rates to the winter dens seem to normally be about 32% according to this study (32.5% in this study) & the introduced tagged population had a similar rate at 30%. Perhaps you had those percentages mixed up?

http://www.srd.alberta.ca/Biodiversi...arterSnake.pdf

Shows that relocation can be doable under the right conditions.

Bad link, here's the right one: http://www.srd.alberta.ca/Biodiversi...arterSnake.pdf

[Sonya610]

You seem to contradict yourself in that statement. "probably a lot would survive just fine"... "and I doubt if most could make it on their own."

Sorry didn't see the followup's. What I meant was IF the snake was acclimated to the natural food AND it was released near a den with the same sub-species yes many probably would survive; however I seriously doubt if most of the pet garters released into the wild have those advantages.

Grant it many of the folks on this site go out herping and look for wild garters in their area so they know where the right areas are, but those that buy from breeders or other pet stores do not do that so they wouldn't know (or necessary care) about the best locale with a large garter population and they wouldn't think of making sure the animal has been acclimated to the local food sources before releasing.

Richard you yourself talk about capturing beautiful wild garters and having to release some because they cannot adjust and will not eat. Some will only eat a very limited diet. You know they don't all thrive, and I assume some will die from the stress and lack of food as a result.

Same thing could easily happen with a CB garter that spent his life eating tilapia and pinkies and suddenly found himself in a foreign environment with NO tilapia pieces or pinky parts lying around! He is stressed being in a foreign environment, possibly not being able to find suitable shelter during cold weather, and if he doesn't recognize the food sources he is a goner.