Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Well I wish I had my camera with me but unfortunatly the situation did not warent it. I was out fighting a fire yesterday and found a Garter snake right there in the midle of the burn. He was alive and well and the bigest garter I have ever observed. A fellow fire fighter pointed it out and I gave chase. To my surprize he shot right up a downed tree. I did not know these things climbed trees. "From now on when I go into the field I will look up more" After about a half hour of chasing I finaly caught it. The estimate was about 4 feet long and almost as big around as a 24 tablet Motrin bottle. Unfortunatly I had nothing to transport it in for the day on the engine so I took it to an unburned area well away from the fire and set it free. Kinda sucks I would have liked to get pictures of it.
RR

I wonder if it was a giant garter(gigis) out of its range if so its nice you let it go they are extremly rare and magnificent animals.If you see another try and take a pic!!!

I think just becasue of that I will go out and get one of these kodak disposable cameras and keep it in my fire gear. I honestly have never in my life observed a garter that large. What is there range? This was observed in Amador County In the sierra nevada foot hills in N. California.
RR

That was probably a Chaparral Whipsnake (Masticophis l. lateralis). They're pretty common in the foothills, a lot bigger than any Thamnophis, and often do the sort of thing you describe. They're pretty abundant in southern California and a little less so up here. I typically see them while looking for zonata and boas at higher elevations than Amador, though periodically flip them each spring in the 2,500'-3,000' elevations, as well. For a good look, check out Robert Stebbins Field Guide to Western Reptiles and Amphibians.

Obviously youve never seen a 4-5 foot california giant gartersnake, though you may be right due to the range stated and the fact it climbed a tree. I figure if he says its a garter its a garter unless we see a pic!

I am fairly confident it was a garter but could be wrong. As far as the tree gose it was not a standing tree. It had fallen in the fire but the trunk was a few feet off the ground. The only thing I thought was strange was I have never in myu life observed a garter that size and never in my life observed a gart that swift and agile in the rough teraie
RR

That is correct that giant Garter Snakes get 4 ' long, but you can't find one anywhere near Amador County. Gigas are found only around here in the drainage of the Sacramento River and at elevations no higher than sea level. And, they don't look much like any garter snake you've seen before. They're pretty homely: just dark brown and black with a faint dorsal stripe upon occasion. In Amador County, the Mountain Garter Snake (Thamnophis elegans)is pretty common but never gets more than about a slender 30" long and Thamnophis always dive down for cover and stay low. Masticophis, by comparison, often run up into bushes and across open areas boldly when chased.

The only places I Myself have seen Giant garters is the Stocton rice fields and a very secluded drainage area here in Contra Costa county the largest being one with a head the size of a shot glass.Ill try and dig up some pics in the field.They are not very prety but a good size one definately has a majestic beauty uncomparable to any other garter.