Quote:
Originally Posted by sschind
Still, the garters have a long way to go before I would consider them a popular pet species here in the US.
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I should amend that comment to being a popular pet species available in pet shops here in the US. Garter snakes are perhaps one of the most widely kept snakes simply because they are so plentiful and relatively easy to find in the wild. I'm sure many many people got their first start in the hobby by keeping WC garters. Its just that as they are introduced to more exotic species most people tend to forget about the local common stuff (not me, my favorite species of frog is still the Gray tree frog that I grew up surrounded by) Perhaps that is why you don't see them offered as much in the retail trade. I am sure that some stores carry a few but my guess is nothing compared to other colubrids.
Tying this in with the E. Blackneck discussion, I seriously doubt that a few people picking up a garter snake here or there to keep as a pet would have much of an impact on wild populations. Wholesale collection is the aspect of the pet trade that has to be watched closely, and being that garters are not so much in demand the problems of that may be more limited. Obviously those species and subspecies with a more limited range would be more at risk. Add to that the beautiful coloration and relative docile temperament of the E. Blacknecks I could see where it could potentially be a problem. Habitat destruction IMO is still the number one threat to wild populations. If it gets bad enough, sure, then plucking one or two prime breeding females to keep as pets could cause lasting damage to the population but if it gets to that point the species is probably doomed in the wild anyway.