Feature:
Garter Snakes
"There are many types of garter snakes found all across North America, from Mexico to Canada. They have a variety patterns & markings, & can be brown, tan, olive, or black with yellow, red, orange, or even blue stripes down their sides & backs. Some are all black. They can grow to be over 4 feet long, but most adults reach only 2–3 feet in length.
Often called 'gardener snakes,' they earn that name by eating grasshoppers, slugs, grubs, & other insects. A large adult garter snake may even eat mice. (Unfortunately, they also eat some critters such as frogs, toads, salamanders, & earthworms.) To eat large prey, they unhinge their jaw from their skull. Back-curving teeth keep the prey from escaping.
Since they grow throughout their lifetime, snakes need to shed their skin when it gets too small. To do this, they rub their head on something rough to hook the skin near their lips & as they crawl out of it, the skin is turned inside out.
Garter snakes won’t bite you unless provoked. They won’t chase you. They are really very shy & are not looking for a fight!
Garter snakes do produce a very weak venom, but the venom is so mild that it rarely has any effect on humans (it can cause light swelling in those who are allergic, however). The snake uses its venom to subdue larger prey items, like frogs & mice.
Active year-round in the south, in the northern half of North America they hibernate below the frostline in the winter, congregating in large numbers in burrows & crevices to keep warm during the cold months. In the spring, they emerge & mate.
Females only breed every 2 to 3 years. They bear live young in the late summer, usually having between 4 & 20 babies, though some can bear up to 85!
It takes 2 years for garter snakes to reach maturity & they can live to be 10 years old in the wild."
From: Garter Snakes: The Gardener's Friend
Why Snakes Are Good For Your Garden
almanac.com
by Robin Sweetser
July 7/2021
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