Every summer there is something that I love to do--play with the garter snakes in our yard. But, first you have to find them. I think that is almost as much fun as playing with them! Here is what I have learned so far.

 

     First, you have to be very fast! Because snakes are fast. So often, by the time I have seen a snake, it has disappeared into the ivy. Ivy is a great place to find snakes, but their coloring makes them blend right into the ivy, so you have to use your nose.

 

     Second, your nose is your best helper. Those snakes have a special smell that you can't mistake for anything else. If it smells like a snake, it is definately a snake. So what you have to do is stick your nose into the ivy clear up to your eyeballs, and sniff to the left, then sniff to the right, then sniff a little forward and then a little back. Then pull your nose out, move over a little bit and do that again. This helps you figure which way it went. You can follow a trail this way for hours--it is great fun!

 

     Following behind a snake is not a bad way to catch them. You see, I learned that one end bites, and the other does not. And, the bitey end is usually on the other end when the snake is moving away from you. So, you come up behind it and grab the tail end and pull it out of the ivy. (They are always going into the ivy!)

 

     What can you do when you find a snake? Well, it is great fun to toss it into the air and then see what it does when it comes down. Sometimes they head for the ivy and you get to play some more. Other times, they decide they don't want to play anymore, so they lie very still. Here is what you do if they are tired of playing--you nudge them with your paw. You tap them gently, maybe two or three times. Sometimes they will head for the ivy again, but sometimes they just don't want to play anymore.

 

     Oh, I almost forgot--whatever you do, try not to get the snake on your tongue. They taste awful! Yuk. Their smell is kind of like a skunk and they taste just as bad.