Behavior. Common garter snakes are
active mainly during the day and are active through a wider range of temperatures than most snakes
. They hibernate from late October through March or early April, but can be found basking on rocks during mild winter days.
Are garter snakes aggressive?
Garter snakes are shy
. They will generally avoid humans and animal contact and prefer to be left alone. If you have Garter snakes in your yard or garden, chances are you may not even know.
Is a garter snake friendly?
Garter snakes
, for instance, can, in fact, be a gardener's best friend. Garter snakes are harmless to humans and love to bask in the warm sun in and around garden areas. Unfortunately, many people kill these garden snakes before they realize just how beneficial they can be.
Do garter snakes chase you?
Garter snakes won't bite you unless provoked.
They won't chase you
. They are really very shy and 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).
What is the characteristics of garter snake?
They generally have
three light stripes that run the length of their body
which has a black, brown, gray or olive background color. The dorsal stripe runs down the center of the snake's back and two lateral stripes run down the body to the sides of the dorsal stripe.
What attracts snakes to your house?
- Mice.
- Leaf piles.
- Landscaping rocks.
- Dense shrubbery.
- Gaps in your home's foundation.
- Bird baths.
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.
What time of day are garter snakes most active?
Considering they spend the winter hibernating, a potential run-in with a garter snake will most likely occur during the late spring and summer. These pests are also primarily active during the warmer hours of the day, like
the afternoon
, which is when they leave their dens to hunt and bask in the warm sunlight.
How big do garter snakes get in feet?
Garter snakes are relatively small, usually between 23 and 30 inches (58 and 76 centimeters), though sometimes growing
as long as 5 feet (1.5 meters)
. Beane described them as “slender to moderately stout-bodied …
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.
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.
What does garter snake poop look like?
In general, snake feces appear
as thick, pasty, dark-brown smears with a white chalky deposit at one end
. Like their shed skins, snake feces may biodegrade relatively quickly.
What's the difference between a grass 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.
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.
Where do garter snakes live?
The common garter snake is most often found around
aquatic habitats
, such as ponds, freshwater wetlands and riparian areas. If threatened, they will often flee into the water where they are excellent swimmers.
Can you smell a snake in your house?
The only way people will know whether there is a snake in their house is by seeing it, Sollenberger said.
Snakes don't really have an odor
and don't really make sounds so it would be impossible to smell them or hear them.
