I have observed our local garters mating in early March and again in September and early October; I have also seen "fresh" neonates in March as well as Sept. and Oct. Sperm storage aside, this timing could match the gestation period, but sound documentation is needed. We can not assume that small neonates we find in early spring aren't starved survivors from the previous fall!

Our local coastal elegans will eat smaller snakes, so timing in juvenile activity may play a major role in their survival. We've also got lots of patient egrets and herons around here! Egads! (Did I just go off on another little tangent again...)

Steven