Garter snakes are relatively harmless, beneficial predators of rodents and insect pests. However, do not pick it up. Alarmed, it may give you a little nip (harmless but still a bite).[1]
What Is The Easiest Way To Find A Garter Snake?
Check for garter snakes in fields, tall grass, under leaves, and logs. They prefer to be close to the ground and camouflaged in the grass. During the winter, you may also find garter snakes holed up in your basement or attic.[2]
Can Garter Snakes Hurt You?
Though garter snakes will use their sharp teeth to catch prey, it’s very unlikely these pests will choose to bite a human. They typically only lash out at humans when they are provoked or feel threatened. Many garter snakes will also release a foul-smelling musk just before lashing out at their victim.[3]
Where Can Garter Snake Be Found?
Garter snakes live in a variety of habitats, including forests, woodlands, fields, grasslands and lawns, but never far from water, often an adjacent wetland, stream or pond. This reflects the fact that amphibians are a large part of their diet. Garter snakes are often found near small ponds with tall weeds.[4]
How Long Can A Garter Snake Grow
The scales of the gartersnake are keeled (a raised ridge is found along each scale) and the belly is yellow and pale green. Adults range in size between 18 and 26 inches in length, but can measure up to 42 inches long.Mar 9, 2018[5]
How Long Is The Longest Garter Snake?
The giant garter snake is one of the largest garter snakes, reaching a length of 63.7 inches (162 centimeters).[6]
Are Garter Snakes Good To Have In Your Yard?
Garter snakes are a gardener’s friend! Harmless to humans, they eat the pests that wreak havoc in your garden. Learn more about the shy but helpful gardening helper who just wants to live peacefully in harmony with you—and eat your slugs![7]
How Old Can Garter Snakes Get?
The average lifespan of wild Common Garter Snakes is approximately 4 years but they may live up to 10 years. Most Garter Snakes probably die in their first year of life. Common Garter Snakes typically eat earthworms, amphibians, leeches, slugs, snails, insects, crayfish, small fish and other snakes.[8]
How To Tame A Wild Garter Snake
‘Taming’ a wild caught garter – Garter Snake Forumwww.thamnophis.com › forum › husbandry › 9323-taming-wild-caught-g…[9]
Can You Tame Garter Snakes?
Garter Snakes make ideal pets, especially for beginners. They are generally docile, easy-to-care-for animals with easy housing and feeding requirements. If possible, it’s always better to purchase captive-bred specimens because they are easier to tame and handle.[10]
Can You Handle A Wild Garter Snake?
Many garter snakes, particularly if they are captive bred, are gentle and do not mind being handled, and handling them is simply a matter of picking them up and letting them explore your hands. If you have experience handling other snakes, it’s important to remember that garter snakes are not constrictors.Jun 1, 2012[11]
How Do You Take Care Of A Wild Garter Snake?
Avoid direct heating sources, such as microwaves, as they can cause the rodent to burst. You may also place small goldfish in your snake’s water bowl. Garter snakes are semi-aquatic, meaning they need water for swimming and drinking. Keep a large bowl of clean, chlorine-free water so the snake can soak itself.[12]
What Do I Feed My Garter Snake
What to Feed to Garter Snakes. Wild garter snakes eat a varied diet containing worms, amphibians, fish, eggs, snails, and rodents. While captive garter snakes can be fed predominantly frozen thawed rodents, occasionally they can be offered other prey items such as earthworms, fresh whole feeder fish, frogs, or toads.Dec 15, 2017[13]
What Can I Feed My Baby Garter Snake?
Food and Water
Juvenile snakes can eat a combination of feeder guppies, minnows, earthworms and fish fillet pieces; feed the juvenile snakes every other day. Mature snakes should eat small rodents, such as mice or pinkies, but they only need food once a week.[14]
What Do Garter Snakes Eat The Most?
Diet. Common garter snakes typically eat earthworms , amphibians, leeches, slugs, snails, insects, crayfish, small fish and other snakes. They seem immune to the toxic skin secretions of toads and can eat them without harm. Occasionally small mammals, lizards, or baby birds are eaten as well.[15]
How Much Should You Feed Garter Snakes?
Things to remember when feeding your garter or water snake: Feed juveniles every other day; adults eating mainly rodents should be fed once a week. If feeding earthworms primarily, feed adults twice a week. Many adult ribbon snakes will eat twice a week regardless of what they are eating.[16]
Do Garter Snakes Need Live Food?
Live fish can be advantageous because some garter snakes will refuse to eat anything else. They can also be a great way to get a baby or smaller garter snake feeding, particularly if they need to see their food move (and they’re not comfortable with you wiggling food at them; see Problem Feeders, below).Mar 26, 2014[17]
How Did A Garter Snake Get In My Basement
Snakes in the Basement? Here’s Why. – JP Pest Serviceswww.jppestservices.com › blog › snakes-in-the-basement-heres-why[18]
How Do Garter Snakes Get In Your Basement?
When the ground shifts from frequent thawing and freezing, foundations on builds will shift and crack. These cracks are ideal places for snakes to create dens. The gaps along your home’s basement are not the only way for these reptiles to get inside. Snakes can maneuver through holes of many different sizes.Jun 3, 2021[19]
Why Would A Garter Snake Come In My House?
Like all reptiles, garter snakes are cold-blooded creatures, so they are often found in locations that offer warmth and food. These slender snakes can enter your home through fairly small cracks. Garter snakes often snack on small mammals, too, such as mice, and small amphibians, such as toads and frogs.[20]
Where Do Snakes Like To Hide In A Basement?
Near pipes.
‘Generally, they’re found in basements and crawl spaces, but specifically areas where there is shelter from predators such as in the rafters of your basement or around water pipes.'[21]
How Long Can A Garter Snake Live
Females give birth to a litter of 10 to 40 live young in summer. Young are five to nine inches long at birth. Garter snakes typically live 3 to 4 years.[22]
How Old Can A Garter Snake Get?
The average life span in the wild may only be 4-5 years however they can live twice as long in captivity. Captives reaching over 10 years old have been documented when reptile health and wellness is prioritized along with proper snake supplies, reptile cleaning supplies, and snake habitat products.Jul 8, 2014[23]
How Long Do Male Garter Snakes Live?
The average lifespan of wild Common Garter Snakes is approximately 4 years but they may live up to 10 years. Most Garter Snakes probably die in their first year of life. Common Garter Snakes typically eat earthworms, amphibians, leeches, slugs, snails, insects, crayfish, small fish and other snakes.[24]
Do Garter Snakes Like To Be Held?
Many garter snakes, particularly if they are captive bred, are gentle and do not mind being handled, and handling them is simply a matter of picking them up and letting them explore your hands. If you have experience handling other snakes, it’s important to remember that garter snakes are not constrictors.[25]
What Is The Longest Garter Snake Ever Recorded?
The largest garter snake ever recorded was a red-sided garter that measured 52.8 inches. According to an article published by CBC NEWS on May 19, 2006, the discovery was made by Jonathan Wiens, a master of science student at the University of Manitoba.[26]
How To Catch Garter Snake In House
How to Catch a Garter Snake (with Pictures) – wikiHowwww.wikihow.com › … › Gardening › Garden Pests and Weeds[27]
How Do You Catch A Garter Snake In Your House?
Use a net or forked stick to capture the garter snake. You can trap them underneath until they finish thrashing and are subdued. Try catching a garter snake by the tip of its tail. This may be harder, since they can slip out of your hands, but it’s possible to catch a garter snake by hand.[28]
How Do You Lure A Garter Snake Out Of Hiding?
You may be surprised to learn that many gardeners go to great lengths to try to attract garter snakes! You can try to entice them by providing them with hiding places (stacked rocks, sheets of plywood, or stumps) and fresh water sources (such as shallow fountains or ground-level birdbaths).[29]
Where Do Garter Snakes Like To Hide?
Garter snakes prefer tall grass, marshland (near water), forested areas. While in these environments, snakes may seek shelter in tree hollows, under logs, leaf litter, underground holes, rock outcroppings and/or burrows that have been abandoned by other animals.[30]
Resources
[1]https://www.almanac.com/garter-snakes-gardeners-friend
[2]https://www.wikihow.com/Find-a-Garter-Snake
[3]https://www.terminix.com/blog/education/are-garter-snakes-poisonous/
[4]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garter_snake
[5]https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/Wildlife/Fact-Sheets/Common-Gartersnake
[6]https://www.fws.gov/species/giant-garter-snake-thamnophis-gigas
[7]https://www.almanac.com/garter-snakes-gardeners-friend
[8]https://wisconsinpollinators.com/Articles/CommonGarterSnake.aspx
[9]https://www.thamnophis.com/forum/husbandry/9323-taming-wild-caught-garter.html
[10]https://petkeen.com/are-garter-snakes-good-pets/
[11]http://www.gartersnake.info/care/handling.php
[12]https://allanspetcenter.com/how-to-care-for-your-garter-snake/
[13]https://www.petmd.com/reptile/species/garter-snake
[14]https://allanspetcenter.com/how-to-care-for-your-garter-snake/
[15]https://vtfishandwildlife.com/learn-more/vermont-critters/reptiles/common-garter-snake
[16]https://www.petco.com/content/petco/PetcoStore/en_US/pet-services/resource-center/caresheets/garter-and-water-snakes.html
[17]http://www.gartersnake.info/care/feeding.php
[18]https://www.jppestservices.com/blog/snakes-in-the-basement-heres-why
[19]https://basementdefender.com/learning-center/snakes-in-your-basement-crawl-space-or-sump-pit/
[20]https://www.havahart.com/articles/how-to-get-rid-of-garter-snakes
[21]https://bestlifeonline.com/news-snakes-hide-basement/
[22]https://www.chesapeakebay.net/S%3D0/fieldguide/critter/eastern_garter_snake
[23]https://reptilesmagazine.com/garter-snake-care-sheet/
[24]https://wisconsinpollinators.com/Articles/CommonGarterSnake.aspx
[25]http://www.gartersnake.info/care/handling.php
[26]https://a-z-animals.com/blog/discover-the-largest-garter-snake-ever-recorded/
[27]https://www.wikihow.com/Catch-a-Garter-Snake
[28]https://www.wikihow.com/Find-a-Garter-Snake
[29]https://www.wikihow.com/Catch-a-Garter-Snake
[30]https://www.terminix.com/blog/home-garden/snake-holes-in-yard/