I found something a little unexpected while I was out at my new found boardwalk area looking for more birds. Sunning itself on the boards was this little Garter Snake. Now before you run away screaming, stay just a few seconds so I can explain a few things.Many of you may be afraid of snakes, but this kind of snake doesn't even have any fangs. As a matter of fact, it is considered harmless to humans and it rarely bites. They almost always try to get away first. You might be in more danger from an angry squirrel than a little garter snake.
Sure they like to eat their food while it's still alive, but the things they eat are mostly smaller than them. As I've shown you in the past they will eat frogs or toads, but a bullfrog will eat a poor little garter snake just as quickly. They also like little creatures that are considered pests, like insects, worms, and leeches.
Not only do frogs think a little garter snake is a tasty treat, so do other animals like certain fish and birds. There are a few pretty good sized birds around this boardwalk, so this little guy is probably in a lot of danger just being there. And he was little, and scared.
As I walked up to this little snake, the poor thing slithered away from its prime spot in the sun, in fear that I might step on it. It gave me plenty of room to walk on by, but I stopped and took a few pictures of it. It was so afraid of the giant standing over it that it couldn't move.It was the same reaction I got from a little toad awhile back. These little garter snakes are really more or less just lizards without the benefit of legs. No fangs, almost no venom, and no effective way to deliver it to a human if it tried. Just another small animal trying to survive.
When I made a move to step a little closer to get a better angle for my pictures, this little garter snake finally worked up the courage to flee in terror. It squirmed as quickly as it could to the edge of the platform, and it went over the side and into the grass to safety.
I've killed several garter snakes in the past. I should never have forgotten the time my grandma picked one up in her garden to show me that they were not very dangerous. They even have trouble getting away. Instead, I decided to be a cruel killer. We all know they don't belong in houses, but I could have just as easily moved each one to a better place.The little garter snake in my pictures got to live for another day this time. But what will happen to this little one tomorrow? Will it come out to the sun for more life giving heat only to be mercilessly stomped to death by another human? Will a big bird snatch it up and gobble it down? It's not easy being a snake.
It's not easy being a snake. What a pity.
ReplyDeleteIt may be a victim to other animals, somehow it is still a threat to someone due to its appearence and name. What a pity again.
I like snakes. I used to catch Grass snakes when I was little. One got in the building here a few years ago and all the women were scared to death of it. I just scooted it back out the door so it could be back in the grass where it belonged. I did see a cat pawing at one out here one time. That snake jumped right int he air at the cat. When the cat got done playing I thought he had killed the snake so I had to go out there and check. but the snake was gone so it got away. I was happy. Nice post Ratty!
ReplyDeleteI love little snakes. (OK, and big ones too). But, um, I think they have little fangs, just not ones with tubular poison deliver systems. I used to get bit often as a child, picking them up, and there were always the distinctive two hole punctures.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry...for me it is not even a question of how dangerous a snake may or may not be....I cannot even look at them in photos:(
ReplyDeleteThey totally freak me out...too slithery for this girl:)
Snakes never worry me, my son filled my house with them, he is a herpetologist. We get snakes in the garden here, the blunt-nosed viper is not welcome though.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a big fans of snakes, no matter you said how friendly they are. Great post Ratty :)
ReplyDeleteI like snakes myself, big and small. I think they're beautiful creatures. I try to save them from my cats whenever I can. I'm not always successful because my cats are fast, but I try.
ReplyDeleteno, i don't like snakes, and if they stay outside away from me i have no problem with them. i lived in a house where there must have been a den underneath as there were snakes inside the house more than once. it just creeped me out, they aren't allowed to live in my house. i couldn't kill them though, too much of a chicken.
ReplyDeleteWhat a cute little garter snake, one of the good guys. when I directed camp in Georgia I spent a lot of time teaching children the difference between poisonous and non poisonous snakes.
ReplyDeleteI think they are such interesting and useful creatures.
SQ
I can remember garter snakes as a kid, and now, you don't see them anymore. I guess all of the development killed them off. Kind of sad, I guess.
ReplyDeleteI would never kill it, but I don't like snakes at all.
ReplyDeleteOh, this just brings back memories of the one in my kitchen. Same color and size. How did he travel over there to you so quickly?
ReplyDeleteGives me the creeps :)
Ratty nice shots of my least favourite visitors. However my attitude towards snakes has changed in the last year. With the occasional one visiting my garden here in Thailand I just try and encourage them to move on.
ReplyDeleteIts very difficult to tell which are harmless and which are not.
I have been diligently teaching my kids to not harm snakes and to not fear them. We have garter snakes, gopher snakes, and racers frequently around and now all the kids (cousins live next door) are happy excited when we see one! Way better then them running for a shovel! And something has to eat all the gophers around here. ;)
ReplyDeleteRainfield- I think humans have a natural fear of snakes. There is a good reason for this, but a little snake of this kind is more benefit to us than harm.
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Ginnymo - I like watching garter snakes now that I know how to identify them. My grandma was another one brave enough to handle a snake like you did. Not many people are. Cats like to tear these garter snakes up. I had to put one out of its misery once after a cat tore it to bits.
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Sharkbytes - You're right, they do have little fangs. They aren't as long as a lot of snakes though. I've never been bitten by one, though I've had contact with a number of them before. I seem to be the designated one to get them out of houses.
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Dorothy L - That's okay too. Being repulsed by snakes is a natural reaction for us humans. Most of us have it. It's part of our built in response for self preservation.
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Glynis - Knowledge of what these snakes can do always helps. I only really recognize garter snakes and our local rattlesnakes. I stay away from them all, but I'll get close to a garter snake.
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Vanilla - I don't really believe any reptile is friendly, but a garter snake is one of the least dangerous snakes. Any wild animal might bite, and that is never fun.
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Cube - Snakes are very beautiful. Any predator can be dangerous though, snakes and cats. Cats seem to love tearing up snakes. I've had to deal with that before too.
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PJ - I definitely agree that snakes don't belong in houses, even as pets. My definition of a pet is a dog or a cat. My personal preference is dogs. Wild animals belong in the wild.
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SquirrelQueen - Knowledge about the different snakes is a valuable thing. Most people lack much knowledge about them. I know very little myself, but I'm finding out how beneficial some snakes can be.
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Lin - There are plenty of them around here. I have now seen at least one at every park or nature trail I've been to.
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The Retired One - I've killed a few in the past, for different reasons. I'm learning to respect nature a little more now, so I'm trying to learn how to deal with them better. I don't like touching them much, but I do love looking.
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Poetic Shutterbug - I was thinking about your showdown with the snake the whole time I was writing this story. You had a particularly bad experience, so any fear you have is very justified. Any wild animal in a house is bad. Seeing one outside where it has room to get away can be a much better encounter.
Maybe your snake just wanted to let you know that it's too far away to bother you anymore. :)
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Mike - I would have the same attitude as you if I were in Thailand. You have some very dangerous snakes there. We only have one kind of dangerous snake here, and I know what they look like. Most of our snakes are also kind of small.
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Julia - Yeah! The best thing to do is watch and enjoy their beauty, but also leave them alone. The safe ones help, like maybe eating gophers, and the dangerous ones are best to stay away from.
ccc, :O ew.
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