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I know this may sound dumb but...... I have herd a few rumors that garters are venoumes? is this true. I was told the have a "toxic" siliva, they said it could not realy hurt me. is there any truth to this if so....... Can a eatern garter "harm" a person, can you have a bad reation to it that could resolt in, sevear swelling, sickniss ect...

sorry if I sound like a idiot..lol but it was worrying me and I had to ask.'
thax

>>sorry if I sound like a idiot..lol but it was worrying me and I had to ask.'

There are many snakes, garters included, which seem to have something in their saliva to which some people may have a reaction--almost like an allergic reaction. SOMEWHERE I think I have a short description of a person who was bitten by a wandering garter (T.elegans vagrans) and who experienced a subsequent reaction to include swelling of his hand. I think he included pics in his report. For this reason, I don't handle my vagrans too much!

I've also heard of reactions to hognose snakes, and a few months ago I heard of a hospital reporting a death from a patchnose snake bite(!).

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Chris McMartin
www.mcmartinville.com
I'm Not a Herpetologist, but I Play One on the Internet

Wandering garters have the Duvornoy's gland, the gland that rear fanged snakes have, its not real well developed. The reactions to their bites depends on your own sensitivity to their saliva. I have been bitten by numerous wandering garters and never had a reaction, but it is possible. The are known for eating rodents, and the saliva has a calming effect on them, makeing it a little easier for them to eat the rodents.

The duvernoy's gland in garter snakes produces a true venom, but not in huge quantities, nor of extremely high toxicity (though some vipers have very similar venom). However, it can't enter your bloodstream in any quantity that would cause a reaction unless they really chew on you for a long time, and work it in with their teeth. Most people don't let a snake keep chewing on them for an hour.

Some people can, of course, develop an allergy to venom. In that case, even a small amount could cause a serious reaction. Folks who are allergic to bee stings would be particularly at risk for this.
People with serious venom allergies should probably not keep garters, water snakes, or hognosed snakes, and certainly not rear-fanged species. (Hogs aren't true rear-fangs...their fangs are designed to pop holes in toads to let the air out, not to channel venom into their prey).