Barry took this and the following shots, the first photos of a garter snake at the Fletcher Wildlife Garden! These snakes are very, very common in the region, but for whatever reason have not been seen at the FWG. However, Diane recently reported that she saw one in July. Sandy saw one on September 29, and today Barry and Isabelle saw one (or possibly 2?)and Barry got these photos.

As for why they have not been seen at the FWG before, well, who really knows? We have ample sites for shelter, resting, and hibernating (they will use chipmunk burrows, go under logs, in stumps, under buildings, etc.). There is a good supply of food as they eat frogs and toads, mice and voles, and eggs and young of ground-nesting birds, worms,and probably grasshoppers and other insects.

This species of snake is often encountered in gardens and urban parks, which is another reason why we are mystified it has not been found at the garden until this year. Perhaps it just took them some time to get here!