“A snake lurks in the grass” ~ Virgil (70-19 BC)
With all the warm weather of late, we are starting to see wildlife show up in the yard. This past weekend with temps in the high 60s, our annual visit with the snakes was upon us. The original meaning of the phrase,”snake in the grass” meant hidden danger. And in my garden I will frequently see snakes in the grass or garden. But there is no danger here. At lease not with the snakes we see. The Common Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis) or the Eastern Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis) are snakes that are plentiful throughout North America, and the most common snake you will see in NY.
I recently discovered we have an endangered snake in our midst. The Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake is endangered in NY, and lives right
in my backyard. The Oneida swamp area (where I live, in and around the lake here) is but 1 of 2 homes where you can find this snake in NY. If I see this snake I will give it a very wide berth.
Garter snakes are usually brown or beige with patterns along their backs and yellowish stripes running the length of the snake. Garters in NY can get 3-4 feet in length. The one we recently saw and pictured here was 3 feet long. Quite a big boy. His coloring is stunning and he is one gorgeous male snake.
Garters live in damp areas such as forests, grass, wetlands and ponds. They find my pond every year. I have a feeling they have a den nearby.
Garters are pretty easy going. Their saliva may be toxic to their prey, but it is not dangerous too humans, though it may cause some itching, burning or swelling. Garters rely primarily on sight and vibration for hunting. Take it from me they are very agile and make some incredible moves to elude predators and humans.
Food
They encounter food while moseying along through the area they have staked out. Garters are carnivorous, and hunt during the cooler parts of the day. They really love frogs, slugs, earthworms, small birds and rodents. Another delectable delight are tadpoles. You can see the garter snake under water waiting in my pond for tadpoles. And I am quite sure a garter ate the second clutch of day old robins last year.
The garter snake is also hunted as food by large fish (such as bass and catfish), bullfrogs, snapping turtles, larger snakes, skunks, opossum, hawks, raccoons, foxes, and domestic cats and dogs.
The Garter Snake is most active in the morning and late afternoon; in cooler seasons like spring they come out only during warm afternoons like the snakes pictured here. Eastern Garter Snakes are the first snakes to show up in Spring, and love basking close to a hiding place like the rocks of my waterfall. Garter snakes can live up to 10 years.
Hibernation
Many garters hibernate during the winter where there is a big drop in temperatures and less hours available for basking. Hibernation is also needed to stimulate mating behaviors. Northern garters migrate to their den which is the same one they reuse year after year. Garters hibernate in large groups keeping warm and close for spring breeding.
Reproduction
When the early spring weather arrives, the male snakes slowly wake up first making short trips so they can stay close in case the cold weather hits. They wait for the females to wake from their slumber. There are far more males than females and most times you will see garters mating using “mating or breeding balls,” where one or two females will be overrun by many males. I have seen these mating balls and they are quite interesting. I feel like I shouldn’t be watching (they make me blush)!
Eastern Garter Snakes mate from late March to early May. Females bear their young live sometimes giving birth to as many as 30 in late summer. Baby snakes can be 6-9 inches in length. Many will not survive very long because of their many predators.
Environmental Concerns
Garters are susceptible to contaminated water, and their territory (mating and hunting areas) has been diminished by suburban sprawl and residential development.
While I wasn’t expecting to post about snakes this week, I couldn’t look a gift snake in the mouth so to speak. The beautiful male at the top of the page certainly needed to be bragged about. I do love seeing snakes in my garden. I respect them all by giving them plenty of room. They don’t seem too spooked by us. They are fascinating ancient creatures that deserve our respect. I am honored when they visit although I tend to not want them to stay too long. The pond just isn’t big enough for bullfrogs and snakes. The bullfrogs get their message across because I find the garters out in the garden in a short time no longer welcome in frog territory.
Next week I will be posting about “Following Nature at Home” or observing nature and reporting the observations. I also will introduce you to our state bird in the coming weeks.
© 2012, Donna Donabella. All rights reserved. This article is the property of BeautifulWildlifeGarden.com If you are reading this at another site, please report that to us
About Donna Donabella
So far this spring I have not seen a single snake. Perhaps the snakes here know it is still March and that they should “chill out”. With all our drystone walls I know that my first shriek of the year is coming. The snakes are welcome here, but when they surprise me everyone in the area knows it.
Becky recently posted..Pleasant Surprises
Becky I was shocked to see this guy but I think they are venturing out not far from home as they break hibernation…which means his den is close by…how close I am unsure but hopefully it is in the back pond area far enough away…I yelled with glee “snake”…of course my neighbors know I am weird!
What a handsome guy he is. Glad you got his picture. It does seem awfully early for snakes.. We have not seen any yet in SoCal.
Kathy @nativegardener recently posted..In the News: Theodore Payne’s Native Plant Tour is Coming Up
Kathy he was so regal in his manner…definitely the king male…how odd I have snakes and you do not…
Donna Donabella recently posted..Fresh Green Natives
Wow, Donna, that is one beauty you’ve got there. I don’t recall the snakes I found at my place in NYC to be quite so pretty. I do vividly remember my neighbor’s cat “playing” with the garter snakes. She’d flip them up in the air and catch them. I’d be trying to catch them tooo….to save them and I did save a good many from the jaws of kitty. I didn’t realize they would eat tadpoles. Interesting!
p.s. “gift snake in the mouth”……HA!
Loret recently posted..Bird Nest Relocation, Eggs and Surprises
Glad you liked the snake and the post Loret…how awful to have the cat flipping the snake…I had not realized pets were definitely a predator until I was researching a bit..the tadpoles are why they visit my pond….lots of good eats that can’t get away! I watched the snake in the underwater picture last year stay submerged for 15 minutes….fascinating.
Donna Donabella recently posted..Fresh Green Natives
I haven’t seen a Garter snake in years. I would certainly welcome one. Beautiful. Maybe as my garden ages.
thevioletfern recently posted..Jeepers Peepers!
I do think of it as an honor when snakes visit Kathy…perhaps you will see one this year…
Donna Donabella recently posted..Fresh Green Natives
I think you are so lucky to have so many different types of snakes. I have one that visits us every year but I have not seen him this year, I think it is a Hierophis viridiflavus. I think it is the same one and he lives around the house as he leaves his skin in the outbuildings.
Amelia recently posted..A trap in the trees – Asiatic Hornets beware
Amelia I love your snake…what a gorgeous color and design…I do love it when they visit…much like the King of the garden come to honor us…
Donna Donabella recently posted..Fresh Green Natives
Glad you posted this in celebration of the snakes – so often people simply want to kill them when they see them, which I find incredibly upsetting. Most snakes have no interest whatsoever in humans and aren’t after us. Finally got my husband to quit the knee-jerk reaction of “kill the snake”. I attribute my friendly attitude to snakes to Ross Allen’s exhibit at Silver Springs when I was a kid. He had a great educational exhibit about the snakes of Florida (and beyond) – I hope someone has carried on his legacy! (and thank you for having such a good habitat for your local snakes!)
Terri there is an great fear of snakes brought on by movies and such. You are correct, they simply tolerate us in their space and I find them so lovely and fascinating…what’s not to love…well yes they eat some frogs and baby birds but that is nature isn’t it…how wonderful for you to have been introduced to snakes in such an educational way…so glad you enjoyed the post!!
Donna Donabella recently posted..Beauty
We have garter snakes here and I thought I had seen a ribbon snake. This is a great post as you are going to run into them..but here near Buffalo NY..nothing with venom..I usually see them sunning on the mulch or draped in a bush..My husband has gotten over his fear of them by watching and learning about them..Michelle
Michelle glad you enjoyed the post….these are one of those critters I embraced after a bit of fear, but realizing they are amazing!! Glad to hear no venom near you
Donna@Gardens Eye View recently posted..Beauty
Donna, I know how hard it is to get a good photo of a garter snake and you also have them mating!! Wow! What a great shot! Blushing indeed! Wonderful snake and post too!
Thx Carol…they seem to love our pond and the rocks around it…seems to also be a prime mating spot..they are unfazed by us as well…
Donna@Gardens Eye View recently posted..Beauty
In fear (shame on me), Donna, I had to come and take a peek … and see I am the only
‘snake wimp’ here visiting. Am in awe of your photos …
joey recently posted..WELCOME SPRING ~ YOSHINO CHERRY BLOSSOMS
You are brave Joey for being the one who fears snakes but comments…we all have our fears…so glad you visited and enjoyed the post!
Donna@Gardens Eye View recently posted..Gardens Eye Journal-April 2012