Large female garter I caught

[snake man12]

So in my back yard about two months ago a came across a large and fat female garter snake. I have tons of them so I thought it wouldn't hurt the population much. any way three weeks ago it gave birth it had 8 or nine babys but only two survived sadly one died last week. SO the other one I gave to my friend and hes eating fish but not pinks yet. thought it would be interesting to share. oh wait I forgot to say I let the large female go

[stephanbakir]

Any pictures? How did the babies die?

[alessia55]

So sorry to hear most of the babies didn't make it

[infernalis]

Getting babies started is usually a challenge, they are so tiny.

[snake man12]

I have a couple of pics ill try to put up soon. I really don't know how the babies diedthey were dead when they came out of the mother

[infernalis]

Still born. it happens.

[Gungirl]

Maybe the stress of taking her out of the wild and putting her in a tank caused all the still borns..... Just a guess but it would make sense.

[infernalis]

Originally Posted by Gungirl

Maybe the stress of taking her out of the wild and putting her in a tank caused all the still borns..... Just a guess but it would make sense.

And a very good guess at that, most people don't realize that any larger bodied garter snake captured between the first thaw and mid July is most likely gravid.

Fertile females never miss a mating, the ratios are set by nature to be more males than females, so the males wait outside the dens and jump every fertile female their is on her way out, virtually guaranteeing that every fertile female gets pregnant.

I have heard of females holding in the babies until they all died and went septic in her belly, because the sudden captivity.

My advice to anyone is not to gather any (unless you can sex them) snakes during the reproductive cycle. (spring / early summer)

[snake man12]

thanks infernalis

[snake man12]

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