garter flattening

[pdomensis]

This weekend while hiding easter eggs for the kiddies I found a western terrestrial garter moving through the grass. When I picked him up he flattened his whole body cobra style! I've never seen one do that!

[stephanbakir]

Yup, they are quite capable! They however can't raise themselves off the ground the way a true cobra, or a pseudoxenodon would, still cool tho!

[infernalis]

It's a defensive display, it makes the snake appear larger to predators.

[Doug 351]

Yep-
My Texas garter used to do that every time it saw me.Bit me all the time too.One of the meanest snakes I ever owned and they aren't supposed to be that way.
Oh-and they don't just flatten their bodies they can make their heads look like a venomous snake.