Quote:
Originally Posted by Deej85
Does anyone know if it is legal to keep a local garter snake in the Vancouver area?
I got all excited about possibly collecting one in the spring, but then realized it might be against some bylaw.
I can't find any link that would give me a concise answer.
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Hi there,
I fondly remember catching wild Garter Snakes around my grandparent’s cottage as a child. I would keep them for a week or so before releasing them, but I never considered keeping on as a long-term pet.
I don’t know if you already own snakes, but I have some comments for you about the Garter Snake:
1) I would avoid a Garter Snake as a pet, because they have the unpleasant ability to ‘musk.’ This means that they can produce a very unpleasant smell. Their poop is also usually running and very smelly, and they poop often!
2) Keeping a wild-caught animal, especially a snake, is generally thought of as something experienced snake owners undertake with a specific purpose. For example, a breeder might import a Wild Caught (WC) snake to expand the genetics of his breeding facility. However, these WC snakes do not do well as pets. See #3.
3) WC snakes are not thought to make ideal pets. Their dietary needs are much more challenging than a Captive Bread snake, and they generally fair poorly in captivity. They are more prone to stress, refusal of food, health issues, and are not usually able to be made tame enough to handle.
4) A WC snake also carries the risk of having parasites, like tape worm, mites, bacterial infections, or other ailments that can be transmitted to your other animals. Is it worth the risk?
5) There are other species of snake that have been established as proven ‘pet’ material, and are bread by enthusiasts that will ensure you receive a healthy CB (captive bread) animal. Some of these species include; the corn snake, milk snake, and ball python. These snakes are good for beginners and are established ‘pet’ snake material, with lots of information and reputable breeders serving their respective communities.
They also come in a variety of colors and patterns ("morphs") that make owning them even more fun and exciting.
Personally I like Ball Pythons. Males only grow to 3-3.5 feet, eat once a week, poop once a week (or longer between), they do not musk, they do not have fangs, and they are generally docile and tamable. Bring nocturnal they do not require special lights for daytime basking, although they do require a specialized heating setup and maintained humidity levels. Check out Ball-Pythons.Net for some good care sheets and further information.
If you want a snake that is more active during the day, check out some sites about Corn and Milk snakes. They also make wonderful pets.
I don’t want to discourage you from owning a snake, but I want to be honest with you about the pros and cons of taking one out of the wild. (Especially a garder snake!) If you plan on dedicating yourself to the animal to ensure its health and happiness in captivity, then spending money on a CB, healthy snake to start with should not be a great sacrifice. After all, in return you are getting 20-30 years of friendship and enjoyment! (If you get a Ball Python. Hehe)
PS: When I was in Jr. High our Science Class had a pet garter snake. I volunterred to look after it over the Christmas break one year, and it stunk up our living room. But I will say this for them; they are fun to watch ‘fishing.’ Garter Snakes have an ability to ‘fish’; if you get a margarine container and fill it with water, and then drop in a few feeder fish from a pet store, the snake will hover its head above the water and then – SPLASH! – dart in and gobble one up. Of course, the downside is that the fish make their poo smell even worse than usual. *rolls eyes*
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