When not resting, these snakes prefer moist, grassy areas and are often found near water, such as streams and lakes. They also like areas that provide cover, so if your yard has piles of debris, such as rocks, logs, boards or dense vegetation, you are more likely to have a garter snake infestation.[1]
Can You Buy Garter Snakes For Garden?
For some people, the thought of attracting snakes to the garden would seem absurd, but for die-hard gardeners with a slug, snail, or small mammal problem, they are the perfect solution. Garter snakes, for instance, can, in fact, be a gardener’s best friend.[2]
What Does A Michigan Garter Snake Look Like
Michigan wild garter snakes vary in appearance, in terms of coloring and scale shading. Their scales are typically black, brown, olive or gray, with three yellow stripes running along the body. These snakes’ heads are larger than their bodies. The undersides of their chins match their yellow stripes.[3]
What Kind Of Garter Snakes Are In Michigan?
According to DNR, there are three types of garter snakes in Michigan — butler’s garter, eastern garter and the northern ribbon snake, which is a subspecies of the garter snake.May 22, 2019[4]
Are Michigan Garter Snakes Poisonous?
First off, we want to reiterate the most important thing: garter snakes are not poisonous. In fact, they can be a natural form of pest control, as they feed on small rodents such as mice and moles. If you’re having a rodent problem, they can be of some help for you![5]
How Do You Tell If A Snake Is A Garter Snake?
Common garter snakes are highly variable in color pattern. They typically have three light stripes that run along the length of their body on a black, brown, gray, or olive background. The stripes can be white, yellow, blue, greenish, or brown.[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 Big Does A Plains Garter Snake Get
Identification. General description: Typically 1 to 2 feet long, this garter snake is brown, greenish or black. Its three long, light-colored stripes are its most obvious marking. Size: Plains garter snakes are generally 15 to 28 inches long.[8]
Are Plains Garter Snakes Aggressive?
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.[9]
Where Do Plains Garter Snakes Live?
These snakes live in meadows and prairies near to water sources, such as marshes, streams, and ponds. They can also be found in the pinyon-juniper zone, farmlands, abandoned buildings, trash heaps, and vacant lots.[10]
How Long Do Plains Garter Snakes Live?
Garter Snake Life Span
The average life span in the wild may only be 4-5 years however they can live twice as long in captivity.[11]
What Time Of Day Are Garter Snakes Most Active?
Common garter snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis) are active mainly during the day and are active through a wider range of temperatures than most snakes. They hibernate from late October through March or early April, but can be found basking on rocks during mild winter days.[12]
What Would Bite Holes In Garter Snake
ImagesView all[13]
Are The Holes In My Yard Snake Holes?
While it is true that snakes often hide in holes, they do not construct their holes themselves — these are primarily the former holes of rodents, turtles and frogs. Additionally, snakes hide inside tree hollows, or under the leaf litter, rocks or bark.[14]
What Are The Predators Of Garter Snakes?
Because of their small size, garter snakes have many predators, including hawks, crows, bears, bullfrogs, snapping turtles, foxes, squirrels and raccoons, according to the Animal Diversity Web (ADW), a database maintained by the University of Michigan’s Museum of Zoology.Dec 10, 2014[15]
How Do You Find Snake Holes In Your Yard?
How can I tell if it’s a snake hole in my yard?1Look out for freshly shed snakeskin. This is a prime sign that there’s an animal living in the hole and that animal is a snake.2Observe any snake feces. … 3Check to see if there are spiderwebs or debris around the hole.[16]
How Do You Get Rid Of Garter Snake Holes?
Unoccupied snake holes can be closed by filling them with dirt or covering them with netting, wire, or burlap. The key point to remember if deciding to fill or cover the hole is not to pile up material, as this will create the perfect space for snakes to nest there again.Mar 29, 2022[17]
What Is Garter Snake Repellent
Get some clove oil, add about five or six drops to a gallon of water, and spray it in areas where you’ve seen snakes. Clove oil has been shown to repel at least some kinds of snakes by the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. Just remember to reapply regularly.Feb 21, 2022[18]
What Smell Deters Garter Snakes?
Ammonia: Snakes dislike the odor of ammonia so one option is to spray it around any affected areas. Another option is to soak a rug in ammonia and place it in an unsealed bag near any areas inhabited by snakes to deter them away.[19]
What Attracts Garter Snakes To Your 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]
Will Vinegar Keep Garter Snakes Away?
10. Use natural repellents. Natural repellents including sulfur, clove and cinnamon oil, and vinegar may help repel snakes. Pour these substances around the perimeter of your property, any place you have noticed snake activity.[21]
What Is The Most Effective Snake Repellent?
If you’re looking to avoid snake encounters this season, read our suggestions to find the best snake repellent for your lawns or garden.BEST OVERALL: Ortho Snake B Gon Snake Repellent.BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Safer Brand 5951 Snake Shield Repellent.BEST ALL NATURAL: Enviro Pro 16003 Snake Scram.[22]
What To Get If You Have A Pet Garter Snake
Are Garter Snakes Good Pets? (An Honest Answer) – Pet Keenpetkeen.com › Blog Posts[23]
What Do You Need For A Pet Garter Snake?
Garter Snake Substrate
Shredded paper goods, such as paper towels, newspapers or readily available recycled paper products, will also suffice to keep your pet snake healthy. To help your snake feel safer, provide small climbing toys and foliage for exercise and hiding spots. Soiled bedding should be spot-cleaned daily.Oct 12, 2020[24]
Is It Ok To Keep A Garter Snake As A Pet?
While garter snakes are abundant in the wild, especially around bodies of water, such as lakes and streams, in Canada, the U.S., Mexico, and Central America, these wild animals should not be kept as pets, as they are illegal to take from their natural habitats in most locales.Dec 15, 2017[25]
What Do Garter Snakes Need In Their Tank?
Housing: Garter snakes stay small, so a 15-20 gallon tank will work well. A full cover should be used on top of a tank with clamps. The habitat will also need a light that is used specifically to heat a tank if the area the tank is kept in is not warm enough.[26]
Do Garter Snakes Need Companions?
Most snake species do not get lonely. They are asocial and only seek out others of their own species when mating. One exception to this is the garter snake. This snake seems to enjoy the company of other snakes, and so it’s quite possible garter snakes suffer from loneliness when alone.[27]
What Bites Head Off Garter Snake
Common Gartersnake – CT.govportal.ct.gov › DEEP › Wildlife › Fact-Sheets › Common-Gartersnake[28]
What Eats A Garter Snake?
Hawks, crows, egrets, herons, cranes, raccoons, otters and other snake species (such as coral snakes and kingsnakes) will eat garter snakes, with even shrews and frogs eating the juveniles.[29]
What Garter Snakes Bite?
Garter snakes don’t have fangs and aren’t venomous. However, they do have a few rows of small teeth and can bite. Their bite can become infected if not cleaned and cared for properly, and some people are allergic to their saliva, although this condition is rare.[30]
Resources
[1]https://www.havahart.com/articles/how-to-get-rid-of-garter-snakes
[2]https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/beneficial/attracting-snakes-to-gardens.htm
[3]https://animals.mom.com/michigan-wild-garter-snake-6465.html
[4]https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2019/05/22/garter-snakes-teeth-bite/3750700002/
[5]https://www.bughousepestcontrol.com/should-you-remove-a-garter-snake/
[6]http://www.biokids.umich.edu/critters/Thamnophis_sirtalis/
[7]https://www.almanac.com/garter-snakes-gardeners-friend
[8]https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/reptiles_amphibians/plainsgartersnake.html
[9]https://www.terminix.com/blog/education/are-garter-snakes-poisonous/
[10]https://animalia.bio/plains-garter-snake
[11]https://reptilesmagazine.com/garter-snake-care-sheet/
[12]https://vtfishandwildlife.com/learn-more/vermont-critters/reptiles/common-garter-snake
[13]https://www.bobvila.com/articles/snake-holes-in-yard/
[14]https://animals.mom.com/identify-snake-holes-ground-7886.html
[15]https://www.livescience.com/44072-garter-snake.html
[16]https://varmentguard.com/blog/how-to-identify-snake-holes-in-your-yard
[17]https://www.bobvila.com/articles/snake-holes-in-yard/
[18]https://dengarden.com/gardening/How-to-Get-Rid-of-Garter-Snakes-Without-Killing-Them-7-Tried-and-True-Ways
[19]https://www.callnorthwest.com/2019/04/home-remedies-to-keep-snakes-away/
[20]https://www.havahart.com/articles/how-to-get-rid-of-garter-snakes
[21]https://smithspestmanagement.com/blog/post/how-to-get-rid-of-snakes/
[22]https://www.bobvila.com/articles/best-snake-repellent/
[23]https://petkeen.com/are-garter-snakes-good-pets/
[24]https://allanspetcenter.com/how-to-care-for-your-garter-snake/
[25]https://www.petmd.com/reptile/species/garter-snake
[26]https://leoandluckys.com/pet-care/garter-snakes/
[27]https://reptilecraze.com/do-snakes-get-lonely-should-you-keep-them-alone/
[28]https://portal.ct.gov/DEEP/Wildlife/Fact-Sheets/Common-Gartersnake
[29]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garter_snake
[30]https://www.havahart.com/articles/how-to-get-rid-of-garter-snakes