Not sure if Garters ARE banned in BC

[Snakefood]

So I've been looking into the banned and controlled species in BC. Nowhere have I found Garters on any of the lists I have found so far!! (except venomous ones which I did not know existed!! But there is reference to them on one of the lists.

Anyways if anybody could attach links to pages for BC regulations that do include Garters, that would be helpful.

these are the pages I have found so far:

BC SPCA: Exotic animal ownership restrictions (http://www.spca.bc.ca/welfare/wildlife/exotic/exotics-ownership-restrictions.html)

http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/wildlifeactreview/cas/pdf/common-prohibited-reptiles.pdf

http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/fw/wildlifeactreview/cas/pdf/common-restricted-reptiles.pdf

I'll keep looking myself too.

[SnakeyJay]

Sorry I'm not much use with this but WOW I didn't know there were venomous garters!!!

[infernalis]

Sorry I'm not much use with this but WOW I didn't know there were venomous garters!!!


Really...

The saliva is mildly toxic, but only to the amphibians they capture to eat.

There is one species of snake often called "Indonesian Garter Snake" that is actually a striped keelback. They are a rear fang snake, however they are NOT a Thamnophis species.


Striped Keelback - Xenochrophis vittatus (http://www.ecologyasia.com/verts/snakes/striped_keelback.htm)

[Snakefood]

so the ones (african) and the rest on the second listing I gave are not venomous in the sense of a rattlesnake or cottonmouth??

( I still haven't found any regulation saying I can't own a garter snake here in BC, except where it concerns our native population, the Westcoast Garter?)

[SnakeyJay]

Really...

The saliva is mildly toxic, but only to the amphibians they capture to eat.

There is one species of snake often called "Indonesian Garter Snake" that is actually a striped keelback. They are a rear fang snake, however they are NOT a Thamnophis species.


Striped Keelback - Xenochrophis vittatus (http://www.ecologyasia.com/verts/snakes/striped_keelback.htm)

Atleast a garter isn't going to get me... Just gotta watch out for my corn then :D

[infernalis]

There is no such thing as any Thamnophis species outside the north/central American continent.

Any information stating otherwise is incorrect.

The geographic range of TRUE garter snakes is from Central Mexico to Alaska, Atlantic coast to Pacific coast.

[Snakefood]

So my province has banned a species that doesn't exist???

GO GOV'T!!!

LMAOROF

[infernalis]

Unless the entire member base of the garter snake forum is wrong.:rolleyes:

and the European Garter Snake Breeders Association also.

And that stack of books I have??

[Snakefood]

Oh don't get me wrong, I totally believe my gov't could/would do something THAT STUPID!!

[SpOoKy]

Oh don't get me wrong, I totally believe my gov't could/would do something THAT STUPID!!

I second that...way to go LEGO hair Harper :)

[infernalis]

I wanted to show this off while the thread was still fresh.. Just found the pic, so here it is. just late...

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

[youngster]

Where did you get that Wayne??

[infernalis]

It was a gift, but Amazon carries used copies.

[Snakefood]

hey wanyne, are you still breeding the garters with blue down thier sides??

[infernalis]

Yes.. when it's successful. Not all lockups produce viable babies.

[Snakefood]

well you let me know when there are babies from your blues!! I can't get one until at least June, but your blues are so stunning!!

[Spankenstyne]

Unfortunately all members of Thamnophis are prohibited in BC without a permit. Unless you're a Zoo or accredited scientific research facility you're not likely to get one of those permits. From the BC regs:

From:
BC Wildlife Act - Schedule A
[section 1]
[en. B.C. Reg. 253/2000, App. 2, s. 9; am. B.C. Regs. 132/2002, s. (b); 120/2009, Sch. 1.]

http://www.bclaws.ca/EPLibraries/bclaws ... /13_168_90

...
Wildlife prescribed
1 The vertebrates listed in Schedule A are prescribed as wildlife for the purposes of the definition of "wildlife" in section 1 of the Wildlife Act. ...

4 Reptiles of the following species:
(a) all species of the family Emydidae — pond and river turtles;
(b) all species of the family Trionychidae — soft-shelled turtles;
(c) all species of the family Chelydridae — snapping turtles;
(d) Repealed. [B.C. Reg. 120/2009, Sch. 1, s. 2 (a).]
(e) all species of the genus Podarcis — wall lizards;
(f) all species of the genus Phrynosoma — horned lizards;
(g) all species of the genus Eumeces — skinks;
(h) all species of the genus Elgaria — alligator lizards;
(i) all species of the genus Thamnophis — garter snakes;
(j) Charina bottae — rubber boa;
(k) Coluber constrictor — racer;
(l) Contia tenuis — sharptail snake;
(m) Hypsiglena torquata — night snake;
(n) Pituophis catenifer — gopher snake;
(o) nora semiannulata — ground snake;
(p) Crotalus oreganus — western rattlesnake.

[Spankenstyne]

I also followed up with an email asking the BC officials to clarify if it was meant to just be the native species of Thamnophis since it was listed in the section pertaining to native species and received this reply:

Hello Mr. Stinson,

Thank you for your email regarding Thamnophis sp. and the Wildlife Act. All species of the genus Thamnophis are considered wildlife (NOT Controlled Alien Species). However, a person who wants to possess any Thamnophis species (both dead or alive) would still need to have a permit from the Fish, Wildlife and Habitat Management Branch.

Please visit the Permit and Authorization Service Bureau at Permit and Authorization Service Bureau - Natural Resource Operations - Province of British Columbia (http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/pasb/applications/process/wildlife.html) for more information on applying for permits to possess wildlife in BC. I should also mention that there is a very low likelihood of receiving a permit to possess wildlife as a pet in BC.

I hope this helps to answer your questions and provides more clarity regarding the legality of possessing Garter Snakes in BC.

Best regards,

Jen Smith
Human Dimensions Specialist
Fish, Wildlife and Habitat Management Branch
BC Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations

[Snakefood]

awwww, crappy. I guess that I won't be getting that stunning blue from Wayne!!

But thanks for finding that for me, as all I found were the links in my OP which didn't mention anything!!

[asnakelovinbabe]

There is no such thing as any Thamnophis species outside the north/central American continent.

Any information stating otherwise is incorrect.

The geographic range of TRUE garter snakes is from Central Mexico to Alaska, Atlantic coast to Pacific coast.

I beleive there is a genus of snakes originating in africa that are also commonly referred to as Garter snakes. And around the world I am sure there are several other garter snakes. We may know our thams as garter snakes but that doesn't mean there aren't others too! This is why common names are no good!!!

[infernalis]

That's why I belive word number 8 in the quoted block of text says Thamnophis ;)

[asnakelovinbabe]

That's why I belive word number 8 in the quoted block of text says Thamnophis ;)

It does not. :smug:

[infernalis]

says you.. :p