Yes, I know that I cannot directly compare snakes with dogs, cats & parrots. Gosh, when I make general statements on the forum, some persons seem to get so upset that they question my sanity.



What strikes me odd is that I am able to defend my assertions with much more logic, reason and specific examples than many of my critics. (I even have the Flickr photos to prove my claims!) My Tex Rat & I strolled around last night for many minutes while he enjoyed riding on my shoulders.



Snake too dumb to swallow prey already in its coils? Yup, that's one trait that they can sometimes demonstrate. Like the person too stupid to remember where their car keys are? Or too stupid to watch where they are driving and cause a car crash?? Or the person so stupid that they drive the wrong way down a one-way road (which you have done)? When do occasional quirks & foibles determine intellect?



Every creature demonstrates silly or questionable behavior at times. Such behavior is not the sum total of species intelligence nor capability. And there are usually exceptions to the rule...



Other factors are highly important in this discussion, but are usually overlooked:



Most persons keep their animals in small quarters, rarely handle them and feed them frozen-thawed food and tap water with sodium fluoride and sodium chlorine. (How would you feel living in a closet, being fed only burgers & fries?) Many breeders breed fathers with daughters, and mothers with sons, to get special color combinations, but do they consider any worth for the animals beyond the salable commodity?



I keep my snakes in natural biomes which mimic their native habitats; I feed live food raised in safe, nutritious conditions; I provide purified water for soak dishes; I handle often and give a chance to explore the world and interact with humans. As a result, I get ASTONISHING results which sometimes generate caustic comments from the *Conform Or Be Cast Out* crowd.





The dealer who packed my snake was bitten by him twice putting him in the bag. I've had the snake for over 14 days and have never been bitten! Different values & techniques get different results. Catch on & catch up, folks!!



Below is a story about a Garter snake that taught me insight about animal interaction with humans. Ignore the evidence, criticize it, or learn from it. Your choice.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



Saga of the Full Moon Snake



October 25, 2007



Thursday full moon night @ 19:45



Alone in my apartment, with the light from the bathroom partially illuminating my room, I heard a sound coming from the vivarium. I glanced over and could see trace outlines, due to faint light coming from behind the window blinds. I saw Jackpot climbing a branch, still active even though the light had been out in my room for several minutes.



It's been just over a month now since I collected him in the wild and set up a natural Oregon Oaks Bottom biome in my 60-gallon vivarium. It contains many types of lichens, some maintained since 1993; at least 2-3 species of moss; wheat grass; purified water; several volcanic & other rocks collected in Oregon; six major hiding spots & three major climbing branches. It is a superlative replica of his natural environment. (I should be so lucky.)



Jackpot is a Red-spotted Garter; a subspecies of the most common reptile in North America; found only in a portion of western Oregon & Washington. He was collected from a site near my county where they are very abundant. During the collection hike, we saw at least 8-10 other snakes of his species along the path. They all had the same nine, brilliant colors, including orange bars & salmon cheeks.



He shares his "room" with a cousin Northwestern Garter collected from my own county. They are very compatible, don't quarrel at all, and often cuddle or sleep together on a branch curled around each other. I am observing them as a Naturalist & Scientist, as well as interacting with them for my own selfish pleasure.



The diet of the Garter Guys is comprised of items from 1-3 species found naturally in their local environments. Food is relatively easily obtained & inexpensive. They do not constrict prey. They chase down prey, overwhelm it and swallow whole.



Quick explanation, and I know that this will be rough to understand for some, so buckle your seat belts. Truth is often stranger than fiction.



I don't have pets, and I don't keep them in cages. I have animal companions housed in natural biomes which meet their needs. In exchange, I offer clean water, freedom from predators & parasites, freedom from cold, year-long activity and the chance to interact with a being that is much larger, more intelligent and experienced than they are. (I should be so lucky.)



Official literature suggests that Garter snakes are daytime snakes; active when it's sunny. They are also allegedly ground snakes and seldom climb. Once in my home, freed from aerial predators, I quickly found that they prefer to sleep up high, on branches.



They also love to watch me (sometimes at non-preferred moments with company), and have spent well over an hour curled on a branch watching me thru the glass while I browse the Internet.



On this full moon night, I walked over to Jackpot and spoke to him thru the glass: "Are you still active and want to explore? If I let you out for a moment to exercise, will you quickly try to escape, or will you interact with me for even a moment?"



There was something about the moment; maybe it was the full moon light coming from the deck outside. I lifted the glass and practiced trust between two species in my mostly dim bedroom. He climbed right up onto my arm. I held him firmly from underneath only, in at least two points always, but did not grasp him.



First question answered.



I held him for a moment, then used the magic Marge Sway. He was quite relaxed, made no attempt to musk nor bolt, and was not seeking to escape from my arm. We took a brief tour of my apartment, his second, but first time done at night.



I walked and he rode on my arm, past the dim light of the microwave oven in the kitchen, past the couch and the closed blinds at the southern window, past the main doorway and back into my room.



I went to put him back into his room, but he did not want to go back inside. He gently climbed back up my arm - as if he were a boy wanting to play longer.



I granted a moment of extra trust, and took him out again, holding him for a moment, gently caressing his side with one or two fingers. A moment later I returned him to his biome and placed him low enough that I had time to secure the cover with him enclosed.



Second question answered.

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