Saw something cool while walking the dog. Finally!

[presspirate]

I know, I know.....pics. or it didn't happen right? Well, I couldn't get pics, but hopefully you'll settle for a story.
We have a wetlands preserve area not too far from where we live, lots of ponds, sloughs, and weeds with paved paths running through it. This is where we take our dog for a walk 3 times a day. It is a little on the cool side today, mid 70's when I took Stewart out.
Walking along the path I almost stepped on an adult garter snake that had just caught himself a good sized toad. He was half in a gopher hole, and the toad was still struggling. I stopped to watch, and was reaching into my pocket to grab my phone so I could get a picture when the snake pulled it's meal back into the hole. It was very cool!

[infernalis]

Easy to believe, No pic necessary.

In the wild, toads are a delicacy to garter snakes.

I will dig up the pics I took of the same scenario playing out in my yard.

[presspirate]

Easy to believe, No pic necessary.

In the wild, toads are a delicacy to garter snakes.

I will dig up the pics I took of the same scenario playing out in my yard.

That would be cool, I was not aware that toads were good eating. I thought that their musk was a deterrent. I was bummed that I missed the photo op.

[infernalis]

That would be cool, I was not aware that toads were good eating. I thought that their musk was a deterrent. I was bummed that I missed the photo op.

The only problem is that toads usually carry the flatworm parasite and transfer it to the snake.

The parasite will bore into the skin of the tadpole and wait for the metamorphosis to occur and then ride around inside the toad until the toad gets ate by something else.

But yes amphibians are all delicacy to garters, they crave frogs, toads, newts & salamanders.

NEVER feed toads to captive garters folks:eek:

[Grimleo]

There's a small tangle of bushes down by the river near my house where a HUGE toad lives and every time I go down there he is out and about. Even the smaller ones are a little too big for the garters to eat around here. Huge toads and bullfrogs all around here, which explains why I have to walk about 5 miles to find a spot where there are garter snakes aplenty. :P

[shaunyboy]

stewart the dog

cool name pal

cheers shaun

[presspirate]

stewart the dog

cool name pal

cheers shaun

I named him after this song: (Spelled differently) The Dead Milkmen, Stuart (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Xuvcpjf1JU)

[presspirate]

NEVER feed toads to captive garters folks:eek:

Good advice, I don't think it's wise to feed any captive snake a "found" food item.

[infernalis]

That would be cool, I was not aware that toads were good eating. I thought that their musk was a deterrent. I was bummed that I missed the photo op.

Took me long enough...... Here's the pics.


http://www.thamfriends.com/photos/toadie.jpg

http://www.thamfriends.com/photos/toadie1.jpg

http://www.thamfriends.com/photos/toadie2.jpg

http://www.thamfriends.com/photos/toadie3.jpg

[Ch^4]

It is a little on the cool side today, mid 70's when I took Stewart out.


Great story, thanks for sharing!

However, a little on the cool side at mid 70s?!?! I'm so jealous :Wow:

[infernalis]

Great story, thanks for sharing!

However, a little on the cool side at mid 70s?!?! I'm so jealous :Wow:

That was back in August that the temps were like that..:eek:

[Ch^4]

That was back in August that the temps were like that..:eek:

I have a tendency to not look at the posting date....I believe that is #2. Doh!

[presspirate]

Yeah, usually in MN. in August it is in the high 80's to 90's with humidity to match. Right now, we just made it through a blizzard that dumped about 16" of snow on us, and tomorrow night we are looking at temps of 20 below. I hate winter.

Great pics Wayne as always. Thanks for posting them. That snake is butt munching ha! The one I saw was going head first. Still very cool to see in nature. Side note. A local reptile store here sells toads for pets at 8 bucks a piece. Anyone could get them for free in the summer. They are everywhere.