Cuddles!

[kibakiba]

They call them white, yellow, green, red and orange racers here too. I grew up with them being called (colour) racer garter snakes.

[EasternGirl]

Ashley...glad to hear that Cuddles is still around...no escaping anyway! The hiding is probably because he is getting ready to shed. Also, if you are busy and not around a lot...he may be responding to that. Try to take him out and spend time with him as much as you can...I know you are very busy right now and it's tough...but the more you take him out and handle him, the more social he will be. I have been using reptibark and I haven't had any problems with it...I do not feed my snakes on it, however. I take them out and feed them in a separate tank on paper towels. I have noticed that when I have to dig around in it, I get splinters. I have thought about switching back to aspen or carefresh for that reason. But if you don't feed Cuddles on it, it should be fine. If he likes to burrow however...be aware that he won't be able to burrow in it. You may want to try looking at Petco and places like that in the small animal bedding section...they have some nice beddings that work well for garters that aren't as expensive as Carefresh...Boxo is one. Look for beddings made out of paper shreds...with nothing added to them. Some of those work nicely for garters...they are safe and garters can burrow in them. They don't look natural like wood...but garters love to burrow in them and they are very safe in terms of splinters and things like that.

[acovert]

Powell Butte. It's just a block or two from my house. They have everything there...deer, rabbits, coyotes. And apparently garters!
They're doing a lot of construction around there right now, so I'm surprised I found a snake at all.

[ConcinusMan]

ahh. Seriously, you should check out Forest Park and Salmon Creek. Tualitin Hills nature park is awesome too. I see deer and tons of concinnus', northwesterns, turtles, amphibians, birds of prey, etc.

[acovert]

I've talked my boyfriend into Forest Park this weekend. I want to go to Smith & Bybee Lakes Wildlife Area. I'm not entire sure where Salmon Creek is. I've never heard of it. I'll have to take a look at Tualitin Hills nature park - I've never heard of that one, either, but I know that area a little. I'm gonna go up to my uncle's house in Woodland, WA at some point, too; he gets lots of nature there, and there are fish in the shallows of the river that might make good food for garters. I'll be going to some locations on the coast this summer, too. Powell Butte nature area is the closest to me. I can literally walk to it. Since we had to work yesterday, it was closest and the only one we could make it to. I also want to visit Sauvie Island and look around there for wildlife. I intend to get lots of pictures this summer!

[ConcinusMan]

Tualitin hills park is actually in Aloha. Worth the trip. Be sure to check out the grassy area at the eastern edge of the park, bordered by the forest. There's a seasonal pond there, not far from the MAX tracks. It's loaded with snakes in the AM. if its a sunny and very warm day, don't bother looking for snakes between noon and 5pm. They disappear during those hours, unless its cloudy and 60-70 F.

I found stripeless northwesterns there last year.

Salmon creek is where the north end of I-205 merges with I-5 in WA. concinnus' 3ft and larger are all over that place.

[ConcinusMan]

Tualitin hills park is actually in Aloha. Worth the trip. Be sure to check out the grassy area at the eastern edge of the park, bordered by the forest. There's a seasonal pond there, not far from the MAX tracks. It's loaded with snakes in the AM.

here it is:

[Invisible Snake]

Hey does the average CB Concinnus grow 3ft or larger?

[ConcinusMan]

I think that's a matter of genetics and environment. I don't usually see them that big in most places but for some reason it's the norm at that Salmon creek location. I also found the biggest ordinoides I've ever seen, at that location. 2.5 feet. This one (photo by Don Belnap)

[acovert]

I will definitely keep those places in mind. I love looking for snakes and I'm hoping to get good pictures. Those areas look promising.