Head bobbing...

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

it's definately not just a captive thing. take two garters from the wild, and put them in a container together for the first time. I guarantee you they'll do it everytime.

[anji1971]

Oh, I hope I can get a couple more snakes this summer so I can see what you're all talking about!

[enigma200316]

I have seen the same thing with my garters as well, even around feeding time, I think its more just something they do..........

[GarterGuy]

it's definately not just a captive thing. take two garters from the wild, and put them in a container together for the first time. I guarantee you they'll do it everytime.

Yeh, but I wonder if it's something they actually use in the wild. Doesn't seem like they'd be in close contact all that much to have actually developed something like this. Although they do tend to brumate in large groups, wonder if that's maybe where it developed? As far as being visual. Garters are a lot more visual then other snakes, so it wouldn't surprise me to see them using visual signs....such as motion for communication. If I get up to Manitoba this year, I'll have to check things out and see if I can document any of this "bobbing" from snakes at the den sites. I'll also ask the people working there if they know or have heard anything about this.