Help me identify this guy please

[eskimoroll]

Hi everyone,

I came across this small snake recently and am having trouble indentifying it, I was hoping someone from this group could help out. He was found near Sorel, Quebec bathing on a rock near a lake. He is very high strung and nervous. From the pictures I studied, it seems to be a mellanistic eastern garter snake...but the diamond patterns around his head are the only characteristic which I haven't matched on any image found on the web.

Any help would be appreciated, I just want to make sure he is not venemous, or an endangered species.

[adamanteus]

Hi and welcome to the forum. You don't have a Garter Snake there, that's a Red Bellied Snake (Storeria occipitomaculata).

[eskimoroll]

Thank-you!!

I am a little perplexed, though...I wasn't aware that they were found so far north. It was found in habitat about a 2 hour drive north of Montreal.

[infernalis]

Ah James beat me to it.....

I was unaware they were found so far north also.

Great little snakies, however they seldome fare well in captivity

[eskimoroll]

they seldome fare well in captivity

So far you might be right, I have tried giving him worms (it's been two days), but he seems much too nervous. I think I will spend a little more time holding him, so he gets used to us and hopefully gain some trust. If he doesn't eat in a day or two, I will let him go.

[infernalis]

So far you might be right, I have tried giving him worms (it's been two days), but he seems much too nervous. I think I will spend a little more time holding him, so he gets used to us and hopefully gain some trust. If he doesn't eat in a day or two, I will let him go.

That is where it not going to work, Red belly snakes are extremely reclusive, they hate handling of any kind.

Can you access garden slugs at all? Reds prefer garden slugs, they will eat worms, but given a choice, will chose the slugs every time.

The best thing to do if you really want to keep the snake, is to avoid handling it at all, give it lots of places to hide, and place the enclosure where there is the least amount of human activity.

Primarily, red belly snakes are nocturnal, proffering to feed in the early evening or early morning.

[adamanteus]

I agree with Wayne on this.... minimal handling is more likely to succeed. This snake will need to feel very secure, he needs to think you don't know he's there!

[GartersRock]

Good luck! But I agree, if you're going to handle him, it won't work.

[eskimoroll]

Ok guys, thanks for the advice. My original intention in keeping the snake was to educate my kids (5 and 12) and help them overcome their fear...which has worked. We caught it in habitat which had tons of rocks and sand. My son wound up catching about 6-7 garters in a few hours, and my daughter insisted on handling everyone of them

However, if this snake's personality is as anti-social as I'm hearing, it might be best to let him go...especially if he is somewhat of a rarity in these parts.

I do have access to slugs here, so I'll try and get a few for him and see what happens. Another concern I have in keeping him is where to find food in the winter...I think all I would have access to is nightcrawlers.

[GartersRock]

Sounds like letting this one go may be the best option.

Maybe keep one of them garters?