2015-07-12 – Nova Scotia Off the Beaten Path – 4/25
Musquodoboit Valley Hike
Common Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis)
What a cool encounter: face to face with a common garter snake. Although some species do possess a mild neurotoxic venom, garter snakes are not dangerous to humans.
Interesting for me: garter snakes are ovoviviparous (bearing live young). The young are incubated in the lower abdomen, about half way down from the snake's body. Most females from 4 to 80 young between late July and October. Upon birth, the baby garter snakes are independent and must find food on their own.
*** :-) No responsibility is taken for the correctness of this information. Nova Scotia is not my natural habitat. Please correct me, if my identification is not correct or you know a more specific name or subfamily. I’m also interested in common or local names or any other special information.
