I have some questions on my new yard mate! =)

Nosmo · 05-02-2008, 04:37 PM

Hello all,
I figured this was the best place to find my answers.

I live in Oregon near the coast and a few weeks ago while I was walking my dog in our front yard I noticed a small snake scurry a crossed the tall grass. I kind of figured it was a garter snake from its markings (although I'm no expert!).
Now it's been living next to our apple tree ever since. Everytime I walk my dogs, I see it, and say hello =P

Well the time has come where we need to mow the lawn and this will surely endanger him/her. I wanted to post a picture to hopefully get a positive ID that it isn't poisonous.. so I can attempt to move him, so I don't kill it when I mow.

Its not a very clear shot of him/her because our grass is so tall!

And also maybe advice on how to safely capture (Wish I could keep him/her but my wife is afraid of snakes in general) and release in my back yard (as we have a fairly large area of trees and undergrowth for it to live in safely).

adamanteus · 05-02-2008, 04:44 PM

It's certainly a Garter, and so completely harmless. It's hard to tell the species from the photo.
Please do relocate the little guy before you mow.... you can just pick him up and move him... he won't (can't) harm you.

ssssnakeluvr · 05-02-2008, 11:52 PM

yes, it's a garter, probably a northwestern garter. totally harmless. you can just pick him up and move him elsewhere...he may just move on also...

enigma200316 · 05-03-2008, 06:28 AM

yes,I agree with the above, thanks for thinking of the little guy instead of doing the alterative.............

Nosmo · 05-03-2008, 03:20 PM

I relocated him today, he was a sneaky lil guy. and fast!
I was sad letting him go, I almost wanted to keep'em. It was about a foot long.. That was the first time holding a snake too by the way heh, so it was a very new experience for me.
Boy was it stinky!

I'm disappointed I really wanted to take some pictures of it, but between my dogs wanting to kill it, my wife being scared and the phone ringing I left the house and forgot to take some shots. =(

adamanteus · 05-03-2008, 03:28 PM

Well done for moving him Nosmo. Shame you couldn't get any more pictures.
Perhaps he'll visit you again some time, and you could let us know!

Odie · 05-04-2008, 12:27 AM

Hi, from Hillsboro, Nosmo

I would say it is a northwestern garter too

Stefan-A · 05-04-2008, 12:29 AM

Welcome aboard, Nosmo.

drache · 05-04-2008, 04:12 AM

nice to meet you, Nosmo
thanks for taking care of the snake
the stinky stuff is called musk

05-02-2008, 04:37 PM	#1 (permalink)
Nosmo Hi, I'm New Here! Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 2 Country:	I have some questions on my new yard mate! =) Hello all, I figured this was the best place to find my answers. I live in Oregon near the coast and a few weeks ago while I was walking my dog in our front yard I noticed a small snake scurry a crossed the tall grass. I kind of figured it was a garter snake from its markings (although I'm no expert!). Now it's been living next to our apple tree ever since. Everytime I walk my dogs, I see it, and say hello =P Well the time has come where we need to mow the lawn and this will surely endanger him/her. I wanted to post a picture to hopefully get a positive ID that it isn't poisonous.. so I can attempt to move him, so I don't kill it when I mow. Its not a very clear shot of him/her because our grass is so tall! And also maybe advice on how to safely capture (Wish I could keep him/her but my wife is afraid of snakes in general) and release in my back yard (as we have a fairly large area of trees and undergrowth for it to live in safely).

05-02-2008, 04:44 PM	#2 (permalink)
adamanteus Moderator Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Cheshire. (Near Manchester). Posts: 8,357 Country:	Re: I have some questions on my new yard mate! =) It's certainly a Garter, and so completely harmless. It's hard to tell the species from the photo. Please do relocate the little guy before you mow.... you can just pick him up and move him... he won't (can't) harm you. __________________ James.

05-02-2008, 11:52 PM	#3 (permalink)
ssssnakeluvr "PM Boots For Custom Title" Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Posts: 2,079 Country:	Re: I have some questions on my new yard mate! =) yes, it's a garter, probably a northwestern garter. totally harmless. you can just pick him up and move him elsewhere...he may just move on also... __________________ Don www.donsgartersnakes.net

05-03-2008, 06:28 AM	#4 (permalink)
enigma200316 Basilisk (The King of all Serpents) Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: northwestern, PA Posts: 1,905 Country:	Re: I have some questions on my new yard mate! =) yes,I agree with the above, thanks for thinking of the little guy instead of doing the alterative............. __________________ Justin 1.1 similis 0.0.1 parietalis 1.0 sirtalis

05-03-2008, 03:20 PM	#5 (permalink)
Nosmo Hi, I'm New Here! Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 2 Country:	Re: I have some questions on my new yard mate! =) I relocated him today, he was a sneaky lil guy. and fast! I was sad letting him go, I almost wanted to keep'em. It was about a foot long.. That was the first time holding a snake too by the way heh, so it was a very new experience for me. Boy was it stinky! I'm disappointed I really wanted to take some pictures of it, but between my dogs wanting to kill it, my wife being scared and the phone ringing I left the house and forgot to take some shots. =(

05-03-2008, 03:28 PM	#6 (permalink)
adamanteus Moderator Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Cheshire. (Near Manchester). Posts: 8,357 Country:	Re: I have some questions on my new yard mate! =) Well done for moving him Nosmo. Shame you couldn't get any more pictures. Perhaps he'll visit you again some time, and you could let us know! __________________ James.

05-04-2008, 12:27 AM	#7 (permalink)
Odie "Third shed, A Success" Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Oregon Posts: 558 Country:	Re: I have some questions on my new yard mate! =) Hi, from Hillsboro, Nosmo I would say it is a northwestern garter too

05-04-2008, 12:29 AM	#8 (permalink)
Stefan-A The Prince of Insufficient Light. Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Southern Finland Posts: 5,468 Country:	Re: I have some questions on my new yard mate! =) Welcome aboard, Nosmo. __________________ Ophidia in herba.

05-04-2008, 04:12 AM	#9 (permalink)
drache Ophiuchus rhea Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Brooklyn, New York Posts: 4,263 Country:	Re: I have some questions on my new yard mate! =) nice to meet you, Nosmo thanks for taking care of the snake the stinky stuff is called musk __________________ rhea

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