Tuesday, 30 June 2009
Watch Where You Step!
Ah yes, watch where you walk. This garter snake, Thamnophis sirtalis barely shows above
the grass and clover of the lawn. It's an overcast, drizzle-y, cool sort of day and the snake
just lay there as I reached down and picked it up. Garter snakes are rather placid, anyhow.
copyright © Paul Glattstein 2009
Their usual response is to poop on you, rather smelly and stinky. Guess that causes
a predator to turn them loose. Me, I'll just wash well with soap and water.
copyright © Paul Glattstein 2009
So I admired her for a few minutes, then took her over to the edge of the lawn
where some rocks were piled up and let her go. Garter snakes are carnivorous,
so with some luck she'll help control the vole and mouse population. And also
earthworms had better beware. Interestingly, garter snakes are ovoviviparous,
which means the female gives birth to live young, brooding the eggs in her body.