Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Do you think that it would be a problem if I went out in the woods to a nest in the spring and grabed a few ? I live in PA so its kinda easy to find watery spots...I need help!!!!

In PA you are allowed to posses no more than two of any species. You also need a valid fishing license before you collect them. It is also unlawful to sale, trade, or purchase any animal caught within your state. It is unlawful to disturb the nest or eggs of any reptile but Garters give live birth. I highly encourage you to either collect small snakes born last season or else wait until later in the year to avoid removing a gravid female from the wild. If you do your homework and are ready to care for the species you have chosen and you follow your state’s laws, I think it is fine to collect one or two. Make sure you know the diet of the particular species of Garter Snake you want to collect. It varies and a few species can be problematic, though most are not. I also recommend you double check the laws in question. If I may be of any further help please let me know.

Randy
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Firehouse Herps

Hey i live in Pa too! Where abouts do you live? Where do you find your garters, i find snakes from time to time but i dont know where to go looking for them. By the way, i dont think taking garters for pets or whatever in Pa is illegal.

i live in lehigh county so we got woods well i didn't know that it was illegal but..shhhh!! they wont know...my friend said that you shouldn't because the mother will keep attacking you until you leave, so where do you live?

well i didn't know that it was illegal but..shhhh!! they wont know...

Hopefully you meant that in jest. Similar attitudes are why some states prohibit the collection (and keeping, even if captive-bred) of any herp thought to have even the slightest chance of being found native in those states (although it's perfectly legal to build houses right over their habitat, destroying the same herps).
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Chris McMartin
www.mcmartinville.com
I'm Not a Herpetologist, but I Play One on the Internet

I dont live too far from you! I live just north of Philadelphia in the suburbs (were goin to the superbowl!!!) anyway, dont listen to them, i read online that it IS NOT illegal to capture snakes in Pa. Only Rare or Endangered ones are illegal to catch, but Garters are considered "Abundant" according to the website i was on. You didn't do anything wrong. Later!

m

yeah i know ....were going but i have this weird gut feeling that were not going to win.....maybe because the patriots have won like 5 superbowls..well anyways.....now alls i gotta do is find a nest....you have any tips??

since you are some what local do you know of any good places that i could get a snake cheap in case i cant find any wild.....

All i can think of is like any local Petco or Petsmart, but they have more exotic (expensive) snakes. I think you'll find one though. I have a crick in my backyard and ive seen em eyin fish and there is a pond just past that and ive seen snakes that swim in there all the time. Ive even seen milksnakes in the crick as well as some corn snakes (lots of em) around another local pond. So just scout out the woods and ponds and stuff, youll find one.

PS- Dont think like that, were winning baby! GO EAGLES!!!

yea!! were gonna win!!!

ok thanks well when spring time comes around i will have to go out and look around in those areas..... i have a creek by my house too , but raely do i see a snake. ive only seen a watersnake, and what looked like a dead timber rattler but i wasent close enough to check i was like 10, but i know the susquehanna river is good for snakes ive seen waternakes, copperheads,but if you ever go there you have to look under rocks, but be carefull there are mean ones!

It is not illegal in Pa to catch Garter snakes. You are limited by law to only two. You also need a valid fishing license to collect them.

Garter Snakes do not nest. When the young are born they are on their own. Garter Snakes do not exhibit any type of maternal instincts. In some places however, Garter Snakes do hibernate in communal dens, but I have not heard of this occurring in Pa.

It is important to either catch baby snakes or else adults late in the year to avoid removing a gravid (pregnant) female from the environment. This is not only a matter of ethics but it can be an extreme pain in the @#&% for the unprepared keeper. There can also be legal complications.

Your previous comments have indicated this is a new hobby for you and that you are just now beginning to acquire any knowledge on the subject. You still have plenty of time to do your research on housing and feeding your desired pets. Make sure you are prepared and Garter Snake keeping can be quite rewarding. If ill prepared for snake keeping the experience will be frustrating for the keeper and cruel to the kept.

Let me know if I can be of any assistance.

Randy

P.S. There has been some individuals busted because authorities have followed up on illegal activities implied in postings to these forums.
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Firehouse Herps

ok thanks,....well if you have any tips i would grately appreciate it, thanks

Here's my page which has some techniques:

www.mcmartinville.com/chris/reptiles/trips/methods.htm

I've caught garters using both methods.

Do some research on your own regarding likely spots to find garters--that is half the fun: identifying a target species, then researching likely spots, then actually finding one right where you expected one to be! Artificial cover near a water source should be good.
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Chris McMartin
www.mcmartinville.com
I'm Not a Herpetologist, but I Play One on the Internet