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Garter snakes aren't the most user friendly types. None of them really liked to be picked up by huge warm humans, but the only one which ever bit me was a garter. It was fairly large, and I did not get a good angle on clasping it carefully behind its head so it could not strike, as it was curled up against a very steep woods embankment, so we were face to face. So I was promptely bitten on the hand, which I deserved. There was a bit of pain, but no ill effects. My Golden Guide to Snakes and Reptiles reminds me that Garter Snakes bear their young live, up to twenty at a time, so the snake at the entrance to its hole may well have been guarding young ones inside. There are a number of different Garter Snakes across North America, and the GG mentions that most are fairly docile and do well in captivity which is now severely frowned upon. But..the Common Garter Snake... is more aggressive than ohers and is marked by three yellowish stripes, while the dark area in between is spotted. Our Ribbon Snake with yellow or red stripes against brown scales is also a garter snake, and its tail is about a third of its body length. I believe it is the one which is seldom seen any more, and all sightings are of interest and should be reported to the Museum of Natural History in Halifax. I envy your sightings, as I seldom see snakes any more. There used to be a lot of them along the woods roads down home (Bear River), with frogs and toads, where they used to like to sun themselves. Now, if I find anything, it is just mashed ones. There may be other factors, but the ATVs have done an awful number on them. ....and recently the legislation has been softened on such vehicles. Jean
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