Since there are garter snakes on the outskirts of developed areas (and
probably in less developed patches within developed areas) they are
probably reintroducing themselves on a constant basis. The real question
is whether they can survive cars, cats, hoes, and neat landscaping when they
slither into well-settled neighborhoods.

Unrelated reminiscence: When I was a youngster in Texas, my siblings and I
would catch garter snakes. We'd go down the alleys, flip over boards, and
grab at anything moving. Note the location (Texas), which has a variety
of poisoness snakes and spiders. I couldn't do that now, even in western
Washington where there are no poisoness snakes. Age adds that little bit
of hesitation and fear before grabbing.

We always let the snakes go, since the thrill of scaring Mom's friends
with a box of snakes, while memorable, was brief.

On Sun, 14 Sep 1997, Cliff Drake wrote:

> Regarding the following comment, is it practical or even possible to
> re-introduce garter snakes to our urban gardens? Would it be at all fair
> and humane for the snakes? Also, what urban birds prey on native Western
> Washington Snakes?
>
> Allyn Weaks says:
> >As for snakes, judging from the ever-recurring 'how can I get rid of the
> >snake in my garden' thread on rec.gardens, I think people are at least
> as
> >much to blame as cats. Our society makes it all too easy for people to
> >become phobic about snakes, and many simply don't care whether the
> >snake in their garden is hazardous or beneficial--they just want it
> gone. The
> >now traditional landscaping of lawn with specimen tree and foundation
> >shrubs doesn't help any either...

Kelly Cassidy -- Washington Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Box 357980, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, 98195
kelly at u.washington.edu --- 206-685-4195 --- 206-368-8076