Welcome to Colleen’s Corner. This is a column meant for fun and some information About myself: I am a Freelance Photographer you often see me on the side of the road or in various places taking photos of different things animals, birds, places, people etc. l have lived in Lumby for over 8 years, you have seen my photos in the newspaper (Lumby Valley Times) and once in awhile in the Vernon Morning Star, and the Lumby Art Gallery. Photography is my passion. Disclaimer: The information on some of my photos that I write about a lot of times come from the Internet or books I research them, hopefully the facts are as close to the truth as I can come.
By Colleen Fielding
While walking through the Salmon Trail by D&M recycling I saw a quick movement out of the corner of my eye. When I looked down it was a Garter Snake.
Harmless creatures, but I still am weary of them.I don’t really like snakes of any kind. This little snake was probably more afraid of me than I am of it.
These snakes are seen everywhere in BC, and other North America areas. They can be found in cities close to parks and water, forests, and grass fields. They are excellent swimmers, looking for their food of amphibians, earthworms, and fish. They have a great sense of smell, and vision while hunting they use their tongues by flicking it so they can get the scents in the air.
They have slender bodies, a darker colour of their skin which shows off their stripes ranging in colours of yellow to white, or blue.
The Garter snake does not lay eggs like other snakes do, instead they have live births anywhere from 15-40 snakelets that are independent immediately.
Garter snakes will survive in freezing temperatures when they enter brumation, which is the same as hibernating. During the winter garter snakes at times hibernate with more than a hundred other snakes to stay warm.
If they feel threatened, they might bite you which is a slight irritation on your skin but they don’t have venom that could hurt you. However, they could let a awful smelling musk odour from their glands.
These snakes are more active in the day than at night.
Like any wild creature don’t pick it up, leave it alone, let it go on its merry little way.
