Butler garter locals...

[danh]

Somebody recently told me they found a Butler's garter in Stouffville. I know there are supposed to be isolated populations of these snakes further north in Ontario, but does anybody know if there are any in Stouffville? I haven't seen the snake, but even if I had, some of you are aware of my lack of garter-id'ing abilities...

dan

[ont_herper]

hey,
I don't know whether or not Butlers are found in Stouffville I've never heard of them being far from South Western Ontario although some field guides show an isolated population north of Toronto, supposedly they were at one time located around the Hamilton area but those records are well over 50 years old. They should have a small head in comparison to the body no wider then the neck , the lateral line should be on the 3rd row of scales and maybe on half the 2nd and 4h row and often is orange, all the Butlers I've caught have had orange. The easiest ID is when you pick a Butler's up it should rap its tail around your arm or fingers and if you put it on gravel and chase it, it should move really fast but no go very far.

[Ontario_herper]

What that Butler's at Rondeau wasn't enough for you? lol

[Jeff Hathaway]

No Butler's in Stouffville! Butler's should have the lateral stripe on all of the 3rd scale row, plus the top half of the 2nd and the bottom half of the 4th. Although reasonably common in extreme SW Ontario along the Detroit River and up past Walpole Island, the only known populations beyond this have been found at Luther Marsh and Skunk's Misery.

Jeff Hathaway
Sciensational Sssnakes!!

[danh]

Thanks Jeff, now which one of those places are you taking me to in the spring? ;)

Dave: I was mistaken, it was just an small Eastern with a small head.

ont_herper: Sent you an e-mail...

dan