Wild caught baby Garter won't eat...

[Azurascender]

Thanks for all of the help. I live in the Methow Valley in north central WA, the beach is just a small sandy area sidelined to a tributary of the Columbia River. He was squiggling rigorously in the sand not making too much progress (wherever he was headed), so I picked him up. He was relatively calm and wasn't slithering to get away. I am 100% it is a garter snake, but I'm not sure which subspecies, and I know there are quite a few. I DO live in the northwestern territory though. Hopefully these pictures will assist in the identification .

There are a few other species of snakes here common in this particular valley. Rattlers are in an overabundance. But there are also garter snakes, and gopher snakes.

PhonePictures065.jpg picture by Azurascender - Photobucket

PhonePictures064.jpg picture by Azurascender - Photobucket

Oops, I forgot so sign out when I posted those links.

[guidofatherof5]

Nice looking little scrub.

[guidofatherof5]

Any chance you can post a more close-up photo?

I would say it's not a Northwestern.

[RedSidedSPR]

Not a northwestern. Eastern or checkered or sOmething. I like him

[Azurascender]

He sure doesn't want to be touched today. Still a little skiddish.

PhonePictures002.jpg picture by Azurascender - Photobucket

PhonePictures001.jpg picture by Azurascender - Photobucket

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

looks like t. elegans vagrans to me! Wandering Garter Snake.

[kibakiba]

If it was caught in Washington, it could be a northwestern. Are wandering really found in WA? I caught a snake that looks like the one Azur has, I thought it was just the polymorphism working its magic on a northwestern. Specks looked much like that at birth, but darker.

[Azurascender]

I agree with that verdict, looks spot on with google images .
So, I shouldn't be surprised if it shows no interest in food for a couple of weeks? And furthermore, to entice it to eat, try minnows or guppies as they have a stronger scent than the worms I've been attempting to feed it? Using the container trick with a little bit of water?

[kibakiba]

Guppies, worms, fish fillet (salmon, trout, tilapia) and mice are a good place to start. If you're comfortable cutting up a frozen pinky, you can offer that with some fish. A varied diet is the best diet.

[Azurascender]

At this point I'd be thrilled if it ate anything.