Plains Garter Range

[Will]

Anyone know if Plains Garters get this far north(Edmonton)...?

Reason I ask is because I saw one earlier today, and while trying to ID him on the T.A.R.A.S. website (http://www.*************/TARAS/contents/radix.htm) , I noticed they are limited to southern Alberta only(according to that map anyways).

Are they actually this far north...? Beacause I am 110% sure that is what I picked up today. I hope they're around here, I hope to see more, I really liked his/her colors.

First wild snake I'd ever grabbed, EVER - he was pretty beat up too. Big scar on his neck(approx 2") and someone nipped off about 1.5" of his tail. Wish I had a pic now. Pretty exciting anyways.

[Vanan]

Any chance it could be a red-sided instead. Check which scale rows the lateral striping is on.

[Will]

Could be. Didn't bother to count scales or anything.

He had a light belly and a single red(not orangy-yellow or anything) dorsal stripe. Can red sideds have a red stripe on their back...? If so, it's quite possible, but honestly, he looked alot more like the picture of the Plains as opposed to the Red-sided...

Don't know though. Kicking myself, 'cause I usually bring a camera out to harrass the beavers, but didn't this time...

[Vanan]

Don't think the red-sideds have a red stripe. Haven't seen enough in person to have seen their variability anyways, so I can't say fer sure.

Rule #1 when herping, ALWAYS have your camera. Unless you wanna see something cool like a rubber boa. Then you conveniently forget to bring your cam and you'll find one. :P