Wandering gartersnake

[Scales Zoo]

Found this gartersnake on a gravel road the other day. It is a Western Terrestrial (Wandering) gartersnake. We've been getting a lot of calls about these things this year, I think it has been a few good years for the garters in the area.

I think this one is likely gravid - fattest Wandering garter I've ever seen.




I didn't get a good picture of it's head flare, but it could flare it's head more than most bullsnakes I have seen (which makes them look venomous). It also repeatedly struck at me with open mouth, hissing - and looking venomous. I've never seen another garter put on this kind of display before.





One more picture. Most of the other wandering garters around here don't have as much of a definite strip



Ryan

[vanderkm]

Fantastic little snake - definately my favorite gartersnake!! The muted colors and neat pattern are so understated. Great photos,

mary v.

[bighillreptiles]

Ryan you are making me miss home in Melford ,my mother is in moosejaw when i come home for a visit i will look you up Paul

[Scales Zoo]

Thanks Mary.

The red tounge wiht black tip was way more striking in real life. It really stood out, and probably added to the "fear factor" part of it's venomous look.

Paul, you mean Melfort? How long since you lived in Sask? I lived in Moose Jaw for college.

This is the second time I've used my camera for native snakes - and gartersnakes are very difficult to photograph, they don't like to hold still - but I'm glad I captured some shots I could crop into decent pictures.

I can't wait for the rattlesnake count this weekend, we are sure to see more of these, some bullsnakes, many rattlesnakes, and some other garters. I should have bought another memory card for the camera - on the lowest resolution (1mb) I can only hold 33 shots, and I like to take 4 or 5 of each snake, to be able to pick 3 good ones.

Ryan

[bighillreptiles]

i moved back east in 1989 my mom lives out thar and my dad is here spelling is my bad point and typing is the 2end lol .I make it out every cupple of years should go be going out this summer

[Vanan]

Nice shots Ryan. Funny you mention it being bitey. Only vagrans which have ever struck at me are the ones found at Sargeant's Bay along the Sunshine Coast of BC.

Also, you're probably right about it being gravid. In fact, I would say that it's probably gonna pop any day soon. Now seems to be the season for babies. First the garters and I expect the rattlers are close behind. Would be interesting to see if we find baby rattlers during the count as there were none spotted last weekend. All just very fat looking females.

P.S. Hope we find another baby bull!

[Tim_Cranwill]

Some of the only garters I've "caught" that were snappy were gravid. In fact, one of them gave birth during the 8 hours we had her at our camp site. (we were just kids then and didn't know any better )

Nice pics, Ryan.

[Scales Zoo]

I kind of figured the threat display had something to do with it being very close to having babies. I've noticed the same thing with rattlesnakes.

Last year the rattlers had their babies in mid to late August, it does seem to be a late year from all reports - but this year with all the rain, many things changed with all species of local snakes, will probably make a post somewhere about that very soon.

Ryan