What Do You Do If You Find A Garter Snake? - Fixanswer

Many garter snakes, particularly if they are captive bred, are

gentle and do not mind being handled

, and handling them is simply a matter of picking them up and letting them explore your hands. If you have experience handling other snakes, it's important to remember that garter snakes are not constrictors.

Are garter snakes bad to have around?

Garter

snakes are relatively harmless

, beneficial predators of rodents and insect pests. However, do not pick it up. Alarmed, it may give you a little nip (harmless but still a bite). Learn to identify snake species as well.

Do garter snakes live in holes?

Garter snakes don't create and burrow their own holes

. They utilize the holes of other animals or natural cracks in the soil. Shed skins may be found in the spring or late summer. Most adult garter snakes shed two to three times per year.

Do garter snake bites hurt?

Because of its teeth, the venom is released not in a single, lashing out bite, but by repeated chewing. … However, if annoyed, they will bite.

It will hurt

, but it won't kill you. If bitten, be sure to clean the wound completely and get a tetanus shot, as you should for any type of bite.

What attracts snakes to your house?

Mice.
Leaf piles.
Landscaping rocks.
Dense shrubbery.
Gaps in your home's foundation.
Bird baths.

What smell do snakes hate?

Ammonia

: Snakes dislike the odor of ammonia so one option is to spray it around any affected areas. Another option is to soak a rug in ammonia and place it in an unsealed bag near any areas inhabited by snakes to deter them away.

How long do garter snakes live?

How long does a common garter snake live? The life span of an average common garter snake can range from

four to five years

. However, they can live up to 10 years in captivity.

What is the difference between a garden snake and a garter snake?

There is no difference between a garter snake and a garden snake

. Both names refer to the same species, the Thamnophis sirtalis, which is the most common non-venomous reptile in North America. While they vary in color, garter snakes are easily recognizable for 3 lines that run through their bodies.

What does it mean when you see a garter snake?

Understandably, people usually aim to get these venomous snakes off their properties, rather than welcome them into their gardens. … So when you see them in your yard, they're usually

just passing through

and won't hang out for weeks on end like some non-venomous snakes will.”

Where do garter snakes like to live?

Habitat. Beane described garter snakes as “generalists, inhabiting a wide variety of habitats.” They live in

woodlands, meadows and grassy knolls

and like to be near water, especially “in the arid parts of the West,” Beane said.

Are garter snakes out at night?

Garter snakes are incredibly active.

They come out both night and day

. They are typically ground-dwellers, but they may also climb shrubs, vines, or trees to escape predators. Some species of Garter snakes are even proficient swimmers.

Where do garter snakes like to hide?

Garter snakes prefer

tall grass, marshland (near water)

, forested areas. While in these environments, snakes may seek shelter in tree hollows, under logs, leaf litter, underground holes, rock outcroppings and/or burrows that have been abandoned by other animals.

Can a garter snake hurt a dog?

Garter snake defenses

Garter snakes prefer to escape when threatened by a predator, such as your dog, but

they will bite if cornered

. These snakes are considered mildly venomous. … Your pup may experience some irritation if he is bitten, but it is unlikely to be serious.

Can garter snakes get in your house?

These slender snakes can enter your home through fairly

small cracks

. Garter snakes often snack on small mammals, too, such as mice, and small amphibians, such as toads and frogs. … Due to their combined smell, a large group of garter snakes in or under your home can make your residence uninhabitable.