Garter Snake, Common
(Thamnophis sirtalis)

Another of God's Other Creatures

A Photo Journal
From all-creatures.org

Dedicated to the Preservation and Restoration of the Whole of Creation
"And God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good.
And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day" (Genesis 1:31)

God's Other Creatures
Garter Snake, Common (Thamnophis sirtalis)

Garter Snake, Common (Thamnophis sirtalis) (Garter Snake, Common - 01) We spotted this garter snake crossing the road in front of us while we were on one of our walks. Garter snakes are indigenous to North America.
Garter Snake, Common (Thamnophis sirtalis) - 01a (Garter Snake, Common - 01a) This is a closer look at our friend garter snake. Most garter snakes have a pattern of yellow stripes on a brown or green background and their average length is about 50 cm (20 in), maximum about 125 cm (49 in).
Garter Snake, Common (Thamnophis sirtalis) - 02 (Garter Snake, Common - 02) This is another look at the garter snake. The saliva of a garter snake may be toxic to amphibians and other small animals. For humans, a bite is not dangerous, though it may cause slight itching, burning, and/or swelling. Most garter snakes also secrete a foul-smelling fluid from post-anal glands when handled or harmed.
Garter Snake, Common (Thamnophis sirtalis) - 03 (Garter Snake, Common - 03) This is another look at the garter snake. Snakes are not cursed by God, because the serpent tempted Eve in the Garden. God has charges us with protecting all of His creatures, including these snakes.
Garter Snake, Common (Thamnophis sirtalis) - 03a (Garter Snake, Common - 03a) This is a closer look at the garter snake. In hot weather, garter snakes are most active in early morning or later in the evening, and when the days are cold, before they hibernate, they restrict their activity to warm days.
Garter Snake, Common (Thamnophis sirtalis) - 04 (Garter Snake, Common - 04) This is another view of the garter snake on the side of the road.
Garter Snake, Common (Thamnophis sirtalis) - 05 (Garter Snake, Common - 05) This is the last photo we took of our friend garter snake before we said good-bye and continued on our respective ways.
Garter Snake, Common (Thamnophis sirtalis) - 06 (Garter Snake, Common - 06) Over the winter we allow several garter snakes to winter in our heated garage. They squeeze themselves in and out between the rubber gasket on the edge of the overhead door and the side jamb. When we opened the door to go out, this one was coiled up on the floor neat the front of our car.
Garter Snake, Common (Thamnophis sirtalis) - 06a (Garter Snake, Common - 06a) This close up photo helps us appreciate the intricate details that God created in this snake. Note the way the scales are arranged in a woven pattern that looks something like needle-point.
Garter Snake, Common (Thamnophis sirtalis) - 07 (Garter Snake, Common - 07) This is another photo of the garter snake in our garage.
Garter Snake, Common (Thamnophis sirtalis) - 07a (Garter Snake, Common - 07a) This is a closer look at the garter snake. During the time we took these photos, the snake showed no sign of fear and made not attempt to leave, but rather showed a lot of curiosity about the camera lens.
Garter Snake, Common (Thamnophis sirtalis) - 08 (Garter Snake, Common - 08) This is another look at our friend garter snake.
A living garter snake's head (Garter Snake, Common - 08a) We thought you would also like this close up look at this wild garter snake's head, but unlike trophy hunters, we left the head on the living snake, which allowed the snake to live as God intended.
Garter Snake, Common (Thamnophis sirtalis) - 09 (Garter Snake, Common - 09) We then noticed that the garter snake's attention had shifted from the camera lens to the dangling cord on the side of the camera.
Garter Snake, Common (Thamnophis sirtalis) - 10 (Garter Snake, Common - 10) This is the final photo we took of our friend garter snake in our garage. We actually had to coax the snake with a gentle hand to rejoin his or her family members in the corner of the garage so that we could drive out without taking a chance of harming any of them. Since the weather was now getting warmer, they moved back outdoors within a few days.
Garter Snake, Common (Thamnophis sirtalis) - 11 (Garter Snake, Common - 11) We spotted this garter snake on our moss covered front path.
Garter Snake, Common (Thamnophis sirtalis) - 12 (Garter Snake, Common - 12) This is another look at the garter snake on our front path.
Garter Snake, Common (Thamnophis sirtalis) - 13 (Garter Snake, Common - 13) This is the final photo we took of the garter snake on our path, as we continued on our three and a half mile walk to pick up our mail.

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Presented here are just a few of the countless components of God's creation.  Just as we cannot have human and animal life without water and plants, neither can we have lasting peace without love and compassion.  It is our hope and prayer that this series will motivate people to live and act in a cruelty-free manner; that we would no longer hurt or destroy each other, the animals or our environment.

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