Andrew, I think most of us here agree that catching a garter here and there to keep as a pet is ok as long as the snake isn't endangered and is treated well once in your care. Some neighborhood kids caught our first garter as a yearling and he's been with us 6.5 years now I had planned on only having captive bred garters from here on out and the very same week I received my first two captive bred babies a wild adult showed up in my driveway. I probably could have driven her to a nearby creek or pond, but she's now a part of the household... no laws broken, tho as we have a two snake per species limit and she puts me at two.