My first garter

[Steveo]

I find a lot of snakes as a Department of Wildlife volunteer here in CO, but I've always released them unharmed. Until now.

I found this one this past weekend. I have a few other colubrids, but I've never actually owned a garter. I grew up in a big city and we'd find the occasional rat snake in the woods and sometimes copperheads near water, but rarely anything else.

I'm pretty sure it's a big female but the more I look, the less certain I am. I guess that's how it always is, eh? The long tail is throwing me off. I think she's just too big to be a male, at any rate.

She's not thrilled at being handled. She squirms but doesn't panic. She'll assume a defensive posture and look mean, but she'll let me reach in and pick her up if I move slowly.
DSC_0045.jpgDSC_0023.jpgDSC_0040.jpgDSC_0037.jpgDSC_0039.jpg

[katach]

Welcome to the forum family! Looks like you have a female. Where was she found (state/county) we can help ID the exact species of garter for you. Judging by the eyes she looks about to shed as well, make sure you have her humidity proper so she gets her shed off easily. She'll need something to rub against too.

[guidofatherof5]

Female all the way.
I'm guessing Western Terrestrial Garter Snake -Thamnophis e. vagrans

[ssssnakeluvr]

that's a wandering garter, t elegans vargrans... big female. she is getting ready to shed so she might be a little grumpy since she can't see very well.

[Steveo]

Found in Arapahoe County, CO. Pretty healthy population of wandering garters there. I was hoping she'd be gravid, but she's not that thick in the back. We're 4-5 weeks since the end of brumation, so she might just not be showing yet.

I hadn't noticed the opaque eyes until seeing the pictures with flash. She has a big aluminum water dish to soak in and rub against (the soaking was great because she smelled just awful when I brought her home).

[katach]

Yes, the garter musk can be very smelly!! Maybe you could put a rock or something with a rougher surface in with her for the shed. I think the water dish might be too smooth. Your call though.

[ConcinusMan]

that's a wandering garter, t elegans vargrans... big female.

I agree. Probably gravid too.

[mikem]

Nice! I like the last photo with the tongue out

[Steveo]

Thanks everyone. I'm hoping I can find the other CO garter species this year. I'm on the southeast edge of Denver proper, which puts me at the eastern edge of the T. elegans range, the western edge of the T. radix range, and the southwestern edge of the T. sirtalis range. I saw a dead yearling sirtalis last fall that had been run over on a bike path, but I have yet to find a living example.

[guidofatherof5]

Best of luck on your quest