Introduction
Garter snakes, also known as garters or gartersnakes, are a species of nonvenomous colubrid snake. They are native to North America and can be found across the continent from Alaska to Mexico. These snakes have been known to grow up to six feet long and weigh over half a pound!
Why do they call it a garter snake?
The garter snake is a common name for several species of snakes. The word “garter” derives from the French word for belt, which is used to describe the band of skin around a snake’s belly. The name was also used because this type of snake likes to eat its food with its tail wrapped around its body.
The garter snakes are named after the state of Georgia in the United States, where most species occur; there are four native species found there: Eastern Moccasin (Gasticillum mocassin), Western Garter Snake (Thamnophis elegans), Southern Gartersnake (Thamnophis sirtalis) and Northern Gartersnakes (Thamnophis elegans).
In addition to these four states we also have a fifth known species that lives in Mexico called Elaphe guttata eisenbergi but it has been proposed that this particular subspecies should be split into two separate species so we can better understand why they look different when compared side by side with each other!
Are garter snakes good to have around?
Yes. Garter snakes are good to have around. They are not aggressive, so they won’t attack anything unless it’s a threat to them or their young. They also don’t have any venomous or poisonous bites, so you can feel safe letting your children play around with an adult garter snake (assuming the adult is in its own cage).
If you’re wondering whether or not these snakes bite, one last thing: they don’t! The only time a garter snake would bite anyone would be if he/she got trapped by the tail and couldn’t get away—which rarely happens because garter snakes are very athletic.
What time of day are garter snakes most active?
Garter snakes are most active during the day and evening. They’re least active in the middle of the day, which may be why they spend so much time basking on logs or rocks in sunny areas.
What do Ontario garter snakes eat?
Ontario garter snakes eat earthworms, salamanders and small fish. They also eat frogs, toads and other snakes. They can be found in wet areas near lakes or ponds where they will hunt for these animals at night.
They are known to eat small insects like flies, ants and beetles but they also feed on spiders which they catch with their tongue before swallowing them whole. Their diet may include other invertebrates such as spiders or larvae that have fallen onto the ground or been washed into a pond by rainwater runoff (this includes tadpoles).
They also sometimes eat mammals including mice and voles which are common prey items throughout Ontario during winter months due to lack of food availability from other sources such as birds’ eggs being eaten by adults during breeding season.”
Can garter snakes hurt dogs?
The short answer is yes, but not in the way you might think. Garter snakes are harmless to dogs and other pets because they typically only bite when provoked or cornered by their prey. If your dog gets bitten by a snake, remove it from your home immediately and seek veterinary treatment for any injuries sustained during the incident.
If your dog has been bitten by a venomous snake or if you find yourself handling one of these creatures without gloves on (which is highly recommended), contact your veterinarian immediately for further advice on how to treat the bite as well as what steps should be taken next if there’s still concern about infection risk after proper medical attention has been administered through medication or surgery depending upon severity of wound status at time point when incident occurred.”
What animal kills garter snakes?
Garter snake deaths are caused by a variety of animals, including hawks, owls and raccoons. Other creatures that may kill them include snakes (e.g., kendo snakes), frogs and even cats!
Here are some tips to keep your garter snake alive:
- Watch out for hawks near your yard or house. They can swoop down and grab any creature they see moving around before it has time to run away or fight back; this includes you if you’re out in the yard with him/her! You should also be aware of any nearby areas where hawks might nest—
- this includes trees and tall grasses just outside your property line as well as along fences or other structures in your yard which could provide shelter during bad weather conditions like rain storms when predators need additional coverings over their nests so they don’t get caught up in heavy winds blowing through these areas.”
How do I get garter snakes out of my yard?
If you have a snake in your yard, there are several things you can do to get rid of it.
- Remove places where snakes can hide: If there are any obvious places for them to hide, such as under rocks or logs or leaves on the ground, remove these items and place them away from where they’re living.
- Remove food sources: Snakes like mice and lizards, so if these are common prey items for garter snakes then try moving them out of reach of any potential victims (which may include other snakes).
- Don’t use pesticides: Pesticides are very harmful for humans and animals alike—they kill off everything inside their target areas without leaving anything behind! So don’t use any chemicals around your home; if possible try not even looking at them when outside because they can cause headaches and dizziness just by being close enough together over time.”
Do garter snakes come out at night?
The answer is yes, garter snakes are nocturnal. They come out at night and are most active in the early morning and late evening.
If you’re curious about when exactly you should be looking for your first garter snake sighting of the year, here’s how we recommend going about it:
Where do garter snakes go in the winter?
Garter snakes are active during the summer, but some species hibernate in the winter. They do this by burrowing into soil or under rocks and logs. If you find a garter snake hibernating, it will be curled up with its head tucked under its body and eyes closed.
If you want to see how long your garter snake has been there, just take note of where its den is located: if it’s near water or an abundant food source (such as garbage), then it’ll probably be there for quite some time; if not, then maybe next year we’ll see another one!
Do garter snakes eat squirrels?
No. Garter snakes may have been responsible for killing some of the younger animals, but this is not true for adult squirrels. The reason that garter snakes don’t kill squirrels is because they are not venomous and don’t pose a threat to humans either.
How many garter snakes live in a den?
Garter snakes do not live in dens, but they can be found in burrows. A den is a small space that is dug out of the ground and lined with grasses or leaves. Dens may be used for sleeping or mate-attraction purposes and can range from just a few inches long to several feet wide and tall.
The number of garter snakes living in a den depends on several factors: if there’s enough room for them all to fit; how deep the burrow needs to be cut into the ground; whether there are predators nearby (and if so, how many); and how much food each animal needs daily.
How do you deal with a garter snake?
Here are some tips on how to deal with a garter snake:
Don’t kill it. This is a popular question, and one that’s hard to answer definitively. It depends on what type of snake you’re dealing with, who’s handling it, and whether or not they’re trying to move it. If someone is standing around watching their pet slither around in their house or yard and moving slowly enough that you can get a good look at them without stepping on them (or worse—killing them), then yes: I have killed my fair share of snakes over the years.
But if someone has picked up your pet by mistake thinking they were cute but then ran away scared because now there’s an angry giant reptile in their house…then no! That would be very bad! So use caution when dealing with garter snakes because even though most people won’t hurt yours…there are some who might attempt harming yours for reasons unknown (like stealing food).
Conclusion
As you can see, garter snakes are a great pet for many people. They’re easy to care for, they don’t require a lot of space or maintenance, and they can even be fun to watch as they go about their day. Of course, this doesn’t mean every snake is suitable for every individual—especially if you live in an area where there are other snakes around!
So before deciding whether or not your family should add another reptile into its ranks (or just plain don’t like them), make sure that everyone understands what it means to have one of these pets around the house.
