A Snake and a Toad

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lxskllr

lxskllr

No Lifer
Nov 30, 2004
60,887
11,233
126
I just finished mowing the lawn, and membered a garter snake that was down one of my window wells. I saw him last week, but didn't feel like fooling with it. Well, I got my gloves, and was gonna jump down to get him out, and I saw an enormous toad down there too. They both seemed fairly happy, and I thought that was maybe a good place for them. It's moist, and there should be bugs to eat. As a benefit to me, they're eating the bugs next to the house.

So... What's ATOT think? Should I leave them down there, or remove them. My ultimate goal is to have them healthy and happy.
 
R

rasczak

Lifer
Jan 29, 2005
10,437
23
81
leave them. Garter snakes are harmless. Toads on the other hand...kill it with fire.
 
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J

JBT

Lifer
Nov 28, 2001
12,094
1
81
I would monitor them for a week or so.
If they don't look to be doing well purchase some crickets and leave them with the reptiles over night and free them in the morning.
 
BurnItDwn

BurnItDwn

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
26,376
1,885
126
Every time I mow the lawn, I come close to running over a toad. Usually it's one over by my shed in the back yard. Sometimes there's also one in the front yard too, but a different kind. They are smart enough to jump AWAY from the lawn mower, but sometimes they decide to jump away parallel to my path of travel (meaning they don't get very far ahead of me as they hop franticly across the yard.)

Anyhow, I would think that the window well has limited food, and no escape possibility if racoons or cats or something gets down there. Therefore I would think it safest for them to be up on the lawn. They will evade the lawn mower, and you likely won't step on em, so, I say the grass is most likely going to allow them the possibility of a longer lifespan.
 
lxskllr

lxskllr

No Lifer
Nov 30, 2004
60,887
11,233
126
Howard said:
I thought you meant "dismembered".
Click to expand...

Remembered. My keyboard's laming out, and I was typing while holding it with one hand. If I don't hit the keys hard, they don't always register. I've been on a run of dropped letters today :^/
 
DrPizza

DrPizza

Administrator Elite Member Goat Whisperer
Mar 5, 2001
49,601
167
111
www.slatebrookfarm.com
Gloves? For a garter snake? On a 1 to 10 scale, 10 being a man, 1 being a little girl who runs away shrieking "snake! snake!", that's about a 3.
 
lxskllr

lxskllr

No Lifer
Nov 30, 2004
60,887
11,233
126
DrPizza said:
Gloves? For a garter snake? On a 1 to 10 scale, 10 being a man, 1 being a little girl who runs away shrieking "snake! snake!", that's about a 3.
Click to expand...

Don't feel like getting bitten. Aside from the slight risk of salmonella, I just don't want snake teeth in my hand.
 
Red Squirrel

Red Squirrel

No Lifer
May 24, 2003
71,283
14,074
126
www.anyf.ca
Gardner snakes make your hands smell funny. That's usually reason alone to use a rake or something to grab it.

I'm surprised it did not eat the toad, actually, I guess they only eat insects? They can bite hard enough too, their teeth are like needles and they'll just punch a few holes in the skin. Not excruciating but still something I tend to try avoiding. :p
 
lxskllr

lxskllr

No Lifer
Nov 30, 2004
60,887
11,233
126
Red Squirrel said:
I'm surprised it did not eat the toad, actually, I guess they only eat insects?
Click to expand...

I think they only eat bugs, but they might take on something like a toad baby. The toad in the window well would be challenge. He was enormous, and the snake was only 1' or so long. It was maybe twice the diameter of a pencil at its head.

Edit:
Here's Wikipedia on garter snakes. It's actually kind of interesting. They mention the stink, it's a defense mechanism. They also have venom, but difficulty in delivering it.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garter_snake
 
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