Once in our care, we were able to examine the snake, and found lacerations over her back, and a prolapsed vent. A vent is an excretory opening on the bottom of the snake, that expels waste and eggs: an “everything exit,” if you will… We gave the snake antibiotics and medication for the pain, as well as tended to her injuries. After a few weeks of healing, we were able to remove her stitches and release her back to her home territory!
Common Garter Snake’s are the most encountered and widespread snake in Oregon. They are found anywhere from forests to deserts, to our backyards! They just need access to food, water, cover, and places to bask in the sun. These snakes are active during the day, slithering along as they hunt for their next meal. They feed on a variety of prey including amphibians, birds, fish, reptiles, invertebrates, and small mammals. Common Garter Snakes play an important role in the food chain because they are both predators and prey, to birds and mammals like raccoons and skunks. These snakes have evolved to blend into their environment, leading to different scale colors and patterns based on location, but these snakes typically have a yellow stripe that runs down the middle of their back. Another yellowish stripe runs down each side of the snake, and most will also have red spots on their sides. On average, they can grow between 18 inches to 3 feet long!
How to Help
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- Snakes can sometimes have a frightening reputation, but they are an extremely important part of our ecosystem! Common Garter Snakes are non-venomous, and are great wildlife neighbors to have especially for gardeners because they naturally control pests like slugs. There is no need to fear these gentle, shy, and beautifully colorful snakes!
- Although we are unsure what attacked this Common Garter Snake, based on her wounds and location found, we suspect she was caught by a cat. The best thing you can do, for all wildlife, is keep your cats inside. Cats injure and kill billions of native wild animals a year, making them one of the leading causes for declining populations. On top of that, your cat will live a happier, healthier, longer life when kept indoors! Learn more at Cats Safe at Home.
- Learn about the native wildlife in your area and how you can support them!
- No need to throw away leaf litter–instead try raking it towards shrubs/bushes so the animals that forage and/or hide in it can still utilize it!
What to Do If You Find An Ill, Injured, or Orphaned Animal
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- If an animal is visibly ill or injured, has been in contact with a cat, or is definitely orphaned, the best thing you can do is contain the animal in a securely closed (but ventilated) box and keep the animal quiet and undisturbed until you can transport it to your closest wildlife rehabilitation facility. Do not offer food or water.
Bird Alliance of Oregon’s Wildlife Care Center accepts new patients from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. every day. You can also leave a message on our Wildlife Hotline at (503) 292-0304 or email wildlife@birdallianceoregon.org and one of our wildlife solutions counselors will get back to you and provide advice for your specific situation.
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Unfortunately due to COVID-19 we had to operate our Wildlife Care Center this past year with about 20% of our normal staffing and with about a 25% increase in our annual patient admissions. We were left with the difficult but necessary decision to discontinue providing follow-up updates on patients brought into our center so that we could focus on the daily care of the animals. And while we simply cannot write a story about each animal, our goal for this fresh and bright new year is to show you what we can: in the form of a weekly patient update! Check in every Thursday for our “Patient of the Week”; with information on the species, the circumstances that brought the animal in, and preventative advice so you can be a better steward for our wildlife!
If you’d like to contribute to the Wildlife Care Center, please consider making a donation here. Your support helps us save lives.
