[NatureNS] Garter Snake

From: "Paul S. Boyer" <psboyer@eastlink.ca>
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
Date: Sat, 23 May 2009 12:40:14 -0400
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Roland,

I think that you refer to the Eastern Ring-Necked Snake, and they are =20=

snakes =97 no doubt about it.  They like to live under rocks or pieces =20=

of bark and similar debris, and they eat earthworms, salamanders, and =20=

insects.  They are completely harmless to humans.  I have handled =20
them, and they don't even seem to bite, but only wish to escape.  They =20=

are quite delicate and attractive.

The large black snakes you see are entirely trustworthy: you can rely =20=

on them to race away from you if disturbed.  They eat mostly mammals, =20=

so that makes them "good" snakes (depending how you feel about =20
rodents).  I am sure that if you were fast enough to grab a black =20
racer, it would turn and strike at you; but that is surely justifiable =20=

self-defense.

=97Paul

On 23 May 2009, at 10:40 AM, Roland McCormick wrote:

> Hello Paul -
>       What about the small black snakes with a ring around the =20
> neck?  I understand they are asps and not snakes, but what is the =20
> difference? I have found two or three dead ones in my driveway,  and =20=

> I once saw a live one when we moved some old wagon parts.
>        I don't think I would trust any black snakes. I have seen a =20
> few big ones I would prefer to stay away from. In my present home I =20=

> see mostly brown or green garter snakes.
>
> Roland.
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Paul S. Boyer
> To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
> Sent: Saturday, May 23, 2009 9:55 AM
> Subject: Re: [NatureNS] Garter Snake
>
> I believe that there are no venomous snakes in Nova Scotia.  =20
> However, even garter snakes can bite, and their tiny, little teeth =20
> can even draw blood.  (I have had that happen to me.)  Although cold-=20=

> blooded animals do not carry rabies, the oral hygiene of a garter =20
> snake may be such that its bite could transmit lots of interesting =20
> bacteria, so I would handle the snake with gloves.
>
> Garter snakes have longitudinal striping, and are not really brown =20
> (unless they have not shed the skin for a long time).
>
> Isn't it possible that the snake got into the house in some other =20
> room, and then slithered into the bathroom by chance?  It might have =20=

> been hiding somewhere else in the house, and was merely looking for =20=

> water.  In any case, it really belongs outdoors.
>
> A foot long is small for a snake.  I don't think that there is any =20
> rational reason for fear of any snake in the province, although =20
> their movement can startle people.  The most dangerous animals =20
> around are probably stinging insects such as yellow jackets (who are =20=

> especially aggressive in the fall), and bears (if you ever find any).
>
> =97 Paul
>
> On 22 May 2009, at 10:59 PM, Gayle MacLean wrote:
>
>> Hello All,
>>
>> Had a strange occurrence happen today.
>> My husband found a garter snake in our bathroom this evening. How =20
>> it got there I have no idea! I just can't fathom where it might =20
>> have come in!
>>  Along a radiator pipe maybe?
>> I was working at the time so unfortunately I didn't get to see it.
>> He described it as a BIG (a foot long or so) brown snake. Sounded =20
>> like a garter snake to me which we see around the yard every summer.
>> Anyway, he picked it up by the tail and threw it out the door.
>> I can just imagine his expression! He said the sweat was just =20
>> pouring off him.
>> He was not amused.
>>
>> Gayle MacLean
>> Dartmouth
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Instant message from any web browser! Try the new Yahoo! Canada =20
>> Messenger for the Web BETA
>
>
>
>
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
> Version: 8.5.339 / Virus Database: 270.12.37/2130 - Release Date: =20
> 05/23/09 07:00:00


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<html><body style=3D"word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; =
-webkit-line-break: after-white-space; ">Roland,<div><br></div><div>I =
think that you refer to the Eastern Ring-Necked Snake, and they are =
snakes =97 no doubt about it. &nbsp;They like to live under rocks or =
pieces of bark and similar debris, and they eat earthworms, salamanders, =
and insects. &nbsp;They are completely harmless to humans. &nbsp;I have =
handled them, and they don't even seem to bite, but only wish to escape. =
&nbsp;They are quite delicate and =
attractive.</div><div><br></div><div>The large black snakes you see are =
entirely trustworthy: you can rely on them to race away from you if =
disturbed. &nbsp;They eat mostly mammals, so that makes them "good" =
snakes (depending how you feel about rodents). &nbsp;I am sure that if =
you were fast enough to grab a black racer, it would turn and strike at =
you; but that is surely justifiable =
self-defense.</div><div><br></div><div>=97Paul</div><div><br><div><div>On =
23 May 2009, at 10:40 AM, Roland McCormick wrote:</div><br =
class=3D"Apple-interchange-newline"><blockquote type=3D"cite"><span =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"border-collapse: separate; color: =
rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Times; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; =
font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; =
line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: auto; text-indent: 0px; =
text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; =
-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: =
0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: =
auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; "><div bgcolor=3D"#ffffff" =
style=3D"word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; =
-webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div><font face=3D"Arial" =
size=3D"2">Hello Paul -</font></div><div><font face=3D"Arial" =
size=3D"2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; What about the small black =
snakes with a ring around the neck?&nbsp; I understand they are asps and =
not snakes, but what is the difference? I have found two or three dead =
ones in my driveway,&nbsp; and I once saw a live one when we moved some =
old wagon parts.</font></div><div><font face=3D"Arial" =
size=3D"2">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I don't think I would =
trust any black snakes. I have seen a few big ones I would prefer to =
stay away from. In my present home I see mostly brown or green garter =
snakes.</font></div><div><f