Another question? If a Garter bites...

[RZL36]

I've read that too. Hot keepers just use venom glands now.

[drache]

well, the NYC laws use the term
(watch it - garters will be next on the list of snakes deemed too dangerous . . . )
I think the dangers from either a garter bite or a bite from a hognose snake are practically non-existing
but you do have to take into account persons with an experimental mind-set
every account that I have read, when a person needed care after a garter or hognose bite, it involved prolonged chewing
so I just consider it a matter of caution to inform people
all of my garter bites were strictly accidental and there was never any chewing, or hanging on involved
I've never noticed any itching or irritation
I've never gotten bit by my hognose

[Bay_area]

Excellent point, but I'd still consider tetanus a bigger risk.

Yep! Good point, I was bitten in the third grade by a fellow classmate. I believe that was worse than any colubrid bite

[RZL36]

I'm pretty sure it is the combination of prolonged bite and allergic reaction for anything to happen (in a very small number of cases). I tested this myself, and let me say that it took a lot to get the garter to bite me (scenting my finger), and I had no reaction at all.

Worst bite I ever took was from a German Sheppard. That really hurt.

Garter bites are 999 time out of a 1,000 are inconsequential

[anji1971]

I didn't even know garters had teeth until shortly after I first got mine!! I found out by surprise that yes, they do and they know how to use them too!!!
But I'd take a bite from one of these guys any day compared to all the cats and dog bites from my childhood!

[drache]

Mikhaila is far more wary of the gerbils than the snakes
those little fur balls have wicked teeth

[Stefan-A]

Rodents (hamsters in my case) have drawn more blood from me than all other animals put together. With the possible exception of pike (Esox lucius).

[Lori P]

It was a horse who drew the most blood from me, even more than past dog bites... she slammed her head down and bit me on top of my head. Gave me a concussion and lots of blood loss... you know how head wounds are. Lesson learned: don't lean under a blind horse who is eating and might mistake you for a goat grabbing for her food. LOL

[RZL36]

Rodents are the worse. They bite and scratch. I would rather be bit by the biggest garter snake than any rat or mouse.

[drache]

didn't we have "worst bite" thread somewhere before?
this seems so familiar somehow