Diurnal! Yes, but not always.

[guidofatherof5]

Just wondered if any of you have found many of your local Garters out hunting after dark. I relay very heavily on the local nightcrawler in my backyard. On many occasions while hunting worms I have come across a Radix out doing the same thing. I have even fed some of them by hand. Just wondered if some of yours are doing the same thing.

[NetBSD]

i dotn see any out in the yard but im in the mioddle of town. however my garter does come out at night and roam his tank for food, specially if i drop a salamander in there. he isnt near as active at night during the day but i do see him out at night sometimes

[infernalis]

Ditto here. However sometimes we don't feed until midnight, so that may play a role in it.

It's 1:40 am right now, and Mojo is cruising looking for a guppy.

[guidofatherof5]

Wondering more about the wild ones outside. Mine to will come looking for a handout if I'm up late and near them. I have found a full range of ages and sizes outside hunting after dark. Sometimes at 2-3am. This seem to occur whether it's been a dry or wet time of year. I can't say I've ever seen large numbers at a time out. We have a very large population of Radixs in my area, which is residential. I happen to have a large lot size 190'x90' compared most.

[adamanteus]

I have watched Grass Snakes (Natrix natrix helvetica) hunting at night. These are pretty close in life-style to US Garters, and are supposedly diurnal. Unfortunately I can't comment on wild Garters.

[Sid]

My personal experience is the Garter are diurnal, but when the temps are really high you'll see them most often from later afternoon and after dark.

[Zephyr]

I've seen my garters wide awake well past midnight in my room enclosures, especially the wanderings. From my experience with wild snakes, about 8 PM midsummer is when they start to disappear, however I have found snakes out as late as 10 PM. Of course this is all at my friend's house or at the university estate so I couldn't really stick around well after dark...

[reptile3]

You all are lucky, I haven't seen any snakes, worms, or slugs!! I guess I need to camp out in my back yard!!

[Stefan-A]

The Garter Snakes: Evolution and Ecology (p. 99) mentions two nocturnal species: T. marcianus and T. hammondii.

[infernalis]

Unfortunately I can't comment on wild Garters.

Until July, then you can


Even if I have to go out and tie strings to their tails to make them stay put for you.