My Favorite Pet of The High Desert!

The Garter Snake!

During my recent camping trip I stumbling across an animal I have seen numerous times while out camping. I even caught one when I was a boy of about 12 years old and kept it as a pet for some 10+ years before it sadly died of old age... if you can't tell from the picture and title above, I am talking about the garter snake.

Most people are fearful of snakes and they absolutely should be. However, there are a couple breeds of snakes that are virtually harmless. The garter snake is one of those snakes. Especially the smaller ones. I have caught maybe 30 or so in my lifetime and only 1 time did one ever try and bite me and it was a larger male.

Background Info:

Garter snakes are sometimes called "gardener snake" or "garden snake". Both terms are used to describe the nearly harmless, small to medium sized snakes that inhabit much of North America. They can be found as high north as Canada and as low south as Central America. It is the state reptile of Massachusetts.

They are a favorite meal of hawks, crows, and some larger frogs/toads. 

Habitat:

As mentioned above, they inhabit most of North America. They are able to live in such a diversity of habitats mainly due to their varied diets and ability to withstand a varied temperature. They can be found near water or not near water, however, in the western part of North America garter snakes are much more aquatic than in the Eastern portion. They tend not to be found in hot and dry climates or very cold climates.

Overall, garter snakes can be found in backyards, forests, woodlands, fields, grasslands, high deserts, and near ponds. They are much more numerous in areas with some form of water. Either a nearby pond, stream, lake, or some form of wetland. That is likely reflective of the fact that amphibians make up such a large part of their diet.

Diet:

Garter snakes can eat a wide variety of food. Their diet consists of almost any creature they can over power and fit into their mouths. The following are all on the menu depending on where the snake lives:

• Worms
• Toads
• Leeches
• Lizards
• Most amphibians
• Ants
• Crickets
• Grasshoppers
• Minnows
• Rodents

When living near water they will eat a couple other aquatic animals not mentioned. Basically they are a predator of proximity. If prey is nearby and they can fit it in their mouth, they will eat it. Food is swallowed whole and broken down in their stomachs. They almost exclusively feed on live animals, but can sometimes make an exception for eggs. 

The one I had as a pet ate mostly fish, with an occasional small toad or lizard tossed in to change things up from time to time.

Venomous?

Up until recently the overwhelming majority concluded that garter snakes were not venomous. However, recent discoveries have revealed that they do, in fact, produce a mild neurotoxic venom. They cannot kill humans with the small amounts of venom they produce and they also lack an effective means of delivering it, which effectively makes them harmless to humans. They have no fangs like other venomous snakes. They do have teeth in the back of their mouths but their gums are significantly larger keeping the teeth from being exposed, thus the venom is delivered through a chewing action when consuming prey. No venom is injected, unlike most venomous snakes.

This new finding also debunks the theory that all venomous snakes have a triangular head. If in doubt what kind of snake it is, don't pick it up!

In Captivity:

Garter snakes do very well in captivity. As evidenced by the fact that I was able to keep one for over 10 years as a 12 year old boy with a checkered history when it comes to keeping small reptiles alive as pets. They require a 10-gallon terrarium, a water dish, a heat rock, something to climb on, and a heat lamp/UV-B light. 

Feeding baby garter snakes can be a bit more tricky as it takes them some time before they feel comfortable enough in a new surrounding before they will eat. 

In general they do very well with being handled without getting stressed out the way some other reptiles do. They don't bite much and they aren't very fast. One tip to keep them friendly is to make sure you handle them often and if possible, feed them in a separate terrarium than you handle them in. That way they don't associate you with food.

Don't worry, the snake above was not kept long in a bucket, just long enough to keep my stepson happy for a couple hours:

This was the first snake he has ever held or even touched. Like many people he had a healthy fear of snakes before I introduced him to this one.

Summary:

Garter snakes are some of the best pets you can have from the reptile family. They are very hardy and generally do not bite. They eat a wide variety of foods making finding food for them relatively easy. They get along well with kids and most pets, your cat or dog just might try to eat them. They don't get all that big and they will even sit on your lap if you want to watch a movie with them. 

I hope you were able to learn some new information about a great pet that can be found all across the U.S. 

And remember, not all snakes are evil and this one in particular can be a lot of fun! :)

Live well my friends!

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garter_snake

All images used are my own, feel free to use them.

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