Somewhere in Maple Ridge, this March day’s 19 degree temperatures have lured these common garter snakes out of their hibernacula. Dozens if not hundreds of snakes may reside there during the winter. These are males attempting to mate. Certain males will emit something similar to a female pheromone, and then lure the other males away from the female so that he can quickly turn back and have the girl all to himself. Once mating is completed, they will disperse and use their mild neurotoxic venom to subdue their favorite meal items of frogs, fish, salamanders and even mice. (Don’t worry; a bite to a human is harmless.) They do have beautiful coloration.
