The Common Garter Snake

Common Garter Snakes spend the winter underground in dens. They can travel a few kilometres to reach a good den site, and these dens often are shared with other snakes. It is found along streams, rivers, and lakes, marshes, and wet meadows. Males emerge from the hibernacula (underground in dens) first, followed a short time later by the females. These snakes are live-bearing, meaning their young grow inside them until fully developed. Females usually have between 5 and 80 young per litter.  If captured, they will try to escape by releasing a smelly mix of musk and feces but if this is unsuccessful, they can flatten their heads and strike aggressively. They hunt primarily during the day searching for earthworms, insects, slugs, frogs, toads, salamanders, tadpoles, small mammals, birds, fish, and other reptiles. Common Garter Snakes use the position of the sun for directions helping them find their way back to the dens in the fall. To prevent snake infestations, clean up brush piles in the yard, trim overgrown shrubs, and keep lawns mowed to a short height.  

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