This month in Reptiles Mag (actually it's the November issue...hate how they're so far ahead!) there's a good article on field herping for garter snakes in Cali. I'm VERY jealous at how many different species of garters there are there, when all I've got here is T.s.sirtalis. I didn't recognize the author, but he was herping with Gary Nafis, who's garter pics and Cali.Herp site is really well known. Definitely a good read and if you live in N. Cali. you're a fool to not go do some field herping!
Roy