Reptile & Amphibian Forums

A neighbor had asked me for help in locating and removing garter snakes his wife has been seeing in the backyard around the rock walls surrounding the couple of gardens they have. I responded to take a look around during the warmer part of the day, and wasn't able to see any signs of the snakes. Just an old partial shed sticking onto a rock. The mother in the house is deathly afraid of snakes and wants her husband to start taking down all the rocks, probably hundreds of them, to find the snakes and get them out of there. He was ready to start pushing a pitchfork into the mulch garden areas around and between the rock walls, but I told him that isn't the way to go. I did explain that they shouldn't be seen too often, they're not bad but probably good for the garden, not dangerous and should just be left alone. They, especially she, didn't buy it. I also told them it's getting cool here now in NJ which will result in the garter snakes being seen less and less since and they will be hibernating in the not too distant future.

Just wondering if any of you out there with knowledge of wild garter snakes, might be able to offer me any advise in this area. My neighbors are basically nice animal loving people (have a dog and cat, and hamsters) but they just seem to have a problem with the idea of snakes living in their backyard. Can I possibly capture them, and is there any strategy I should consider as to when, where, etc.? They had asked me to help them out if possible knowing I've had a few pet king snakes over the past couple of years, but I really don't know too much about garters other than catching them as a kid and letting the beautiful creatures go a short time later. Thanks for any advise you can offer me.
Jim

Unless the garters are actually denning in the rocks, there is no need to remove them. If they are, remove them in the spring and not the fall. If they are not denning in the rocks, then there is no way from preventing them from foraging and coming on the property.
Another thing you can do is take your neighbor and smack them. Then they may see it your way.

I'll keep that in mind next time I'm over there. As to smacking some sense into them, I'll just have to wait till the big guy puts the pitchfork down. Jim

I've had success in finding mine under plywood/tin. Place some pieces of this along the wall and check it periodically. You may find a few this way and appease your neighbors by removing a few as well.

I do appreciate your tip, and will give that approach a try. That's all I really was hoping to do at this point, since they're leaning on me for advise and action if possible to rid the area of snakes. If I could just catch one or two for transport to another location, I think that would put her at ease enough to at least come back out and enjoy the nice backyard they have. All the best, Jim

have her buy snake neting or snake reppelent both sem to work ok...do it in the spring............

can you give me some idea where I may find snake repellent, and any info on the netting would be appreciated. I'm unfamiliar with the repellent, and was also wondering if the netting is a certain type that I might look for. Enjoy the weekend. Jim