In need of some help

[srockbubbles]

Ok so since she is a Eastern Garter snake, do I still try feeding her the slugs as well as the earthworms or do I get rid of the slugs and stay with fish and nightcrawlers? Right now I don't have her tank with a light nor heat but is that something I ought to do or beings she is inside I can regulate that with the light in the room as well as the thermostat in the room. I have her in a spare bedroom right now where no one goes into hoping that if we leave her alone she will start eating and becoming more comfortable. I kind of feel bad because I thought she was a Brown Snake and was trying to keep her cooler rather then warmer. I hope I didn't mess her up. I have grown really attached to her and don't want to see anything happen to her.

[srockbubbles]

Oh Ok, well hopefully those same rules apply to Ohio as I live in Wood County Ohio. I have no intentions of keeping her to breed her, I just thought it would be really cool to keep her as a pet as long as she thrives in captivity beings that the kids found her. Which then brings back to my previous question:

Ok so since she is a Eastern Garter snake, do I still try feeding her the slugs as well as the earthworms or do I get rid of the slugs and stay with fish and nightcrawlers? Right now I don't have her tank with a light nor heat but is that something I ought to do or beings she is inside I can regulate that with the light in the room as well as the thermostat in the room. I have her in a spare bedroom right now where no one goes into hoping that if we leave her alone she will start eating and becoming more comfortable. I kind of feel bad because I thought she was a Brown Snake and was trying to keep her cooler rather then warmer. I hope I didn't mess her up. I have grown really attached to her and don't want to see anything happen to her.

[guidofatherof5]

Here is a website the Ohio Dept. of wildlife suggested I look at. While I was on the phone with them (Debbie) said that T. siratis sirtalis - Eastern garter snake as a pet is a no-no as it is a species of concern. I also looked at T. radix - Plains garter snake and found they are on the "Endangered" list and also a no-no.

A-Z Reptiles and Amphibians

[guidofatherof5]

Here is a website the Ohio Dept. of wildlife suggested I look at. While I was on the phone with them (Debbie) said that T. siratis sirtalis - Eastern garter snake as a pet is a no-no as it is a species of concern. I also looked at T. radix - Plains garter snake and found they are on the "Endangered" list and also a no-no.

A-Z Reptiles and Amphibians

I hate it when I talk to people who are suppose to know the law and accurately interpret it and they don't. My friend Steve Schmidt did some digging into Ohio's laws and found that a permit is available to keep native species.
Reptiles & Amphibians Licensing and Regulations
I did copy and paste a few things that are relative to your situation.


What You Can Legally Do with a License

A propagating license application must be requested from the Division of Wildlife within 10 days after taking possession of any native reptile, amphibian or wood turtle (Clemmys insculpta).
With a propagating license, except for state endangered species, an Ohio resident may possess:

• four total individuals of each wild-captured native reptile or amphibian from the list below entitled “Wild-captured Native Reptiles and Amphibians”; and/or
• an unlimited number of animals captively produced or legally obtained from out of state, with proper documentation.

A $40 commercial propagating license is required for people wishing to sell, offer for sale, trade, or barter native reptiles or amphibians which have been captively produced, legal*ly obtained from out of state, or are the offspring of wild-captured animals. With this license, the license holder may possess for sale, trade or barter an unlimited number of reptiles and amphibians that are captively produced or legally obtained, with proper documentation.
A $25 noncommercial propagating license is required for people who perma*nently possess native reptiles or amphibians but do not intend to sell, offer for sale, trade or barter animals. The license holder may possess an unlimited number of reptiles and/or amphibians of which only four total individuals of each reptile or amphibian have been taken from the wild.
Except for bullfrogs, green frogs, snapping or softshell turtles that can be harvested with a fishing license, a nonresident cannot take from the wild native reptiles or amphibians, live or dead.
Reptiles or amphibians taken from the wild in Ohio may NOT be bought, offered for sale, traded, bartered, or given as a gift.

Wild-Captured Native Reptiles and Amphibians

Only Ohio residents may possess a total of four individuals from any of the following reptile or amphibian species or any hybrids taken from the wild.

Snakes

Queensnake (Regina septemvittata)
Common Watersnake (Nerodia sipedon sipedon)
Northern Brownsnake (Storeria dekayi dekayi)
Midland Brownsnake (Storeria dekayi wrightorum)
Northern Red-bellied Snake (Storeria occipitomaculata occipitomaculata)
Eastern Gartersnake (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis)
Butler’s Gartersnake (Thamnophis butleri)
Common Ribbonsnake (Thamnophis sauritus sauritus)
Northern Ribbonsnake (Thamnophis sauritus septentrionalis)
Eastern Hog-nosed Snake (Heterodon platirhinos)
Eastern Smooth Earthsnake (Virginia valeriae valeriae)
Northern Ring-necked Snake (Diadophis punctatus edwardsii)
Midwestern Wormsnake (Carphophis amoenus helenae)
Eastern Wormsnake (Carphophis amoenus amoenus)
Northern Black Racer (Coluber constrictor constrictor)
Blue Racer (Coluber constrictor foxii)
Smooth Greensnake (Opheodrys vernalis)
Eastern Ratsnake/Black Ratsnake (Pantherophis alleghaniensis)
Eastern Milksnake (Lampropeltis triangulum triangulum)
Northern Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen)

[srockbubbles]

I went ahead and got the commercial license that way if for some odd reason we find another and they mate and have little ones I can sell or give them away. Again Steve thank you for all your help with all of this..it has been greatly appreciated..

[guidofatherof5]

I've got a message into Peter Mirick(508-389-6300) with MA Fish and Wildlife. I'll report back once I hear something.

[srockbubbles]

That would be greatly appreciated. Thank you guys so much for helping me with this little girl, I don't have any snake knowledge other then what I have read on the forums here and now that I know exactly what type of snake she is that ought to help me out a lot. Thank you again for all of your guys experience and advice it is greatly appreciated.

[guidofatherof5]

Just got off the photo with Mr. Mirick. According to him you may keep 2 of any unprotected snakes species in MA. You may give away or release any babies from those snakes. He hopes they would be released in the area the parent came from. Selling is a whole other ball game as that requires a permit. He said if you have any other questions feel free to contact him.
Peter Mirick 508-389-6300 MA Fish and Wildlife

[guidofatherof5]

Well, for some odd reason I thought you were in MA. I will give Ohio a call. Sorry about that.

[srockbubbles]

lol that is Ok, it is my fault for not knowing how to fix my profile to include all that information..Still new to all this