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Photo Phriday 135 - Snakes II #8136919
05/10/24 07:38 AM
05/10/24 07:38 AM
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,942
Idaho, Lemhi County
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Gulo Offline OP
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Gulo  Offline OP
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Idaho, Lemhi County
It's that time of year. I'm switching out of the bird mode and into the snake mode. They're starting out of their brumation (hibernation). I generally catch, measure, and release 300 to 500 snakes each summer above my house. I'm looking at population numbers, trying to get an idea of what's happening. Interestingly, terrestrial garter snakes have declined about 90% since 2011. All other species have maintained about the same population levels. What's happening?

The rubber boa (Charina bottae) is the only boa constrictor this far north.
[Linked Image]


The prairie rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis) is our only true viper around that's dangerously venomous.
[Linked Image]


Racer youngsters (Coluber constrictor) don't look anything like the adults. This is our only snake that looks different as a juvenile.
[Linked Image]


Here's a photo of an adult.(Coluber constrictor). Note the huge eyes. It hunts by sight.
[Linked Image]


The western terrestrial garter snake (Thamnophis elegans) is actually venomous, but mild enough venom that it is not a threat to humans or pets.
[Linked Image]


The common garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis) is pretty rare here.
[Linked Image]


The gophersnake/bullsnake (Pituophis catenifer) can get 5 feet long, our longest snake hereabouts.
[Linked Image]


Re: Photo Phriday 135 - Snakes II [Re: Gulo] #8136967
05/10/24 08:24 AM
05/10/24 08:24 AM
Joined: Nov 2022
Posts: 172
PA
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hickoryridge Offline
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PA
have any thoughts on the terrestrial garter snake decline?

Re: Photo Phriday 135 - Snakes II [Re: hickoryridge] #8136984
05/10/24 08:55 AM
05/10/24 08:55 AM
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,942
Idaho, Lemhi County
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Gulo Offline OP
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Gulo  Offline OP
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Idaho, Lemhi County
Originally Posted by hickoryridge
have any thoughts on the terrestrial garter snake decline?



hickoryridge - No. I don't have a clue. Apparently, they're not overly sensitive to environmental poisons (herbicides, pesticides, etc.). Could be that it has something to do with extreme dryness lately. We normally get 12 inches annually, but lately, it's been about half of that. Technically, we're in a desert.


Re: Photo Phriday 135 - Snakes II [Re: Gulo] #8136987
05/10/24 09:03 AM
05/10/24 09:03 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,923
Oregon
beaverpeeler Offline
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beaverpeeler  Offline
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Oregon
Garter snakes are doing fine here. If I ever leave a bunch of tarps or black plastic in a pile somewhere on the farm they can always be found underneath wet it gets moved.


My fear of moving stairs is escalating!
Re: Photo Phriday 135 - Snakes II [Re: Gulo] #8136998
05/10/24 09:26 AM
05/10/24 09:26 AM
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,942
Idaho, Lemhi County
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Gulo Offline OP
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hickoryridge and beaverpeeler -

Back in 2011 when I started this, found 31.54 garter snakes per 100 miles of survey. In 2021 (11 years later) found 3.13 garters per 100 miles. Really, not much scientific literature about garter snakes. I'm not too worried, perhaps a normal cycle? Interesting though.


Re: Photo Phriday 135 - Snakes II [Re: Gulo] #8137020
05/10/24 10:03 AM
05/10/24 10:03 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,644
New York ,Adirondack mts.
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mole Offline
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New York ,Adirondack mts.
[Linked Image]

Re: Photo Phriday 135 - Snakes II [Re: Gulo] #8137058
05/10/24 11:06 AM
05/10/24 11:06 AM
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 12,061
Montana ,Rocky Mtns.
Sharon Offline
"American Honey"
Sharon  Offline
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 12,061
Montana ,Rocky Mtns.
Fixin to have an eye peeled for finding a Boa ...nice shots, Jack. As always.

[Linked Image]
[Linked Image]
[Linked Image]

Re: Photo Phriday 135 - Snakes II [Re: Gulo] #8137084
05/10/24 11:52 AM
05/10/24 11:52 AM
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 770
SD
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Tray Offline
"Wilson Jr."
Tray  Offline
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SD
Cool pics Jack, thanks for the info

Re: Photo Phriday 135 - Snakes II [Re: Gulo] #8137089
05/10/24 11:59 AM
05/10/24 11:59 AM
Joined: Nov 2022
Posts: 172
PA
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hickoryridge Offline
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hickoryridge  Offline
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Joined: Nov 2022
Posts: 172
PA
Originally Posted by Gulo
hickoryridge and beaverpeeler -

Back in 2011 when I started this, found 31.54 garter snakes per 100 miles of survey. In 2021 (11 years later) found 3.13 garters per 100 miles. Really, not much scientific literature about garter snakes. I'm not too worried, perhaps a normal cycle? Interesting though.


Hhmm . . interesting

Re: Photo Phriday 135 - Snakes II [Re: Gulo] #8137113
05/10/24 12:51 PM
05/10/24 12:51 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 6,228
Williamsport, Pa.
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jk Offline
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Williamsport, Pa.
Sharon that first snake is beautiful, great job........jk


Free people are not equal. Equal people are not free. What's supposed to be ain't always is. Hopper Hunter
Re: Photo Phriday 135 - Snakes II [Re: Gulo] #8137195
05/10/24 04:46 PM
05/10/24 04:46 PM
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Posts: 770
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Tray Offline
"Wilson Jr."
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Joined: Feb 2010
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Prairie Rattlesnake

Re: Photo Phriday 135 - Snakes II [Re: Gulo] #8137223
05/10/24 06:27 PM
05/10/24 06:27 PM
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 4,287
North central Iowa
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Bob_Iowa Offline
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North central Iowa
Could it be that one of the other snakes are eating them or maybe a bird of prey?

Re: Photo Phriday 135 - Snakes II [Re: Gulo] #8137239
05/10/24 06:45 PM
05/10/24 06:45 PM
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 17,845
Champaign County, Ohio.
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KeithC Online content
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Champaign County, Ohio.
The dryness is probably the reason for the decline in garter snake numbers. Here in Ohio, garter snakes typically give birth in late Summer sometimes as late as the end of September. The babies seem to prefer earthworms over all other prey. I used to have large numbers of garter snakes born from my captive snakes. My largest female, that I had for close to 20 years, had 74 live and 2 dead babies born one year. Most of my females had 20 some. In wet years, I could still find enough worms to feed them. They were always hit or miss on whether they would consume insects. In dry years, I only kept garter snakes that would consume fish. Small creek chub and stonerollers were abundant and concentrated in pools. Their size was perfect for the gape of the snake. I let the snakes that would not eat fish go.

Keith

Re: Photo Phriday 135 - Snakes II [Re: Gulo] #8137366
05/10/24 11:23 PM
05/10/24 11:23 PM
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 8,485
Manitoba
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Northof50 Offline
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Manitoba
Manitoba has some large garter snake dens at Narcisse just north of Winnipeg
https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=17080e463d5dd9c8JmltdHM9MTcxNTI5OTIwMCZpZ3VpZD0xYmQ5OWJlOS0wMDNkLTY3NWYtMmFlMy04OTc5MDFhOTY2NDEmaW5zaWQ9NTIzNQ&ptn=3&ver=2&hsh=3&fclid=1bd99be9-003d-675f-2ae3-897901a96641&psq=narcis+snake+dens&u=a1aHR0cDovL3d3dy5uYXR1cmVub3J0aC5jb20vc3ByaW5nL2NyZWF0dXJlL2dhcnRlci9OYXJjaXNzZV9TbmFrZV9EZW5zLmh0bWw&ntb=1
They are coming out in full force now.
Limestone caves/ cracks is where they travel to. Floods in the fall can be bad.
It is not unusual to see upwards a 1000 in a day.
The last 3 years of drought has effected their numbers as many wet areas are dry with no frog production happening

Re: Photo Phriday 135 - Snakes II [Re: Bob_Iowa] #8137450
05/11/24 07:19 AM
05/11/24 07:19 AM
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,942
Idaho, Lemhi County
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Gulo Offline OP
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Idaho, Lemhi County
Originally Posted by Bob_Iowa
Could it be that one of the other snakes are eating them or maybe a bird of prey?



Bob Iowa-Good possibility sir. Over the years, I've found two roadkill racers with terrestrial garter snakes in them (as prey). I think it's pretty common, but not to the extent that it's causing declines. Kestrels, sharp-shinned, northern harriers, and red-tailed hawks, I've seen with snakes here, but their numbers haven't changed appreciably, so I doubt their responsible. I still think it may be drought-related, but why just the single-species declines?


Re: Photo Phriday 135 - Snakes II [Re: Bob_Iowa] #8137453
05/11/24 07:24 AM
05/11/24 07:24 AM
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,942
Idaho, Lemhi County
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Gulo Offline OP
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Originally Posted by Bob_Iowa
Could it be that one of the other snakes are eating them or maybe a bird of prey?


Bob Iowa -

I've also put out trail cameras at roadkill snakes. Red foxes, coyotes, and especially striped skunks seem to search these snakes out, but these scavenger/predator densities are minor. I doubt they're responsible.


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