Garter Snake

[Bottomfeeder]

When I go up to Cape Cod, there is a lake where we often go, where Garter (or Eastern Ribbon) Snakes are often seen. Now my Dad has said NO handling Snakes because he believes that if a Snake, even non-venomous bit me, I would have to get all kinds of shots in the emergency room. But Garter Snakes, being fish eaters, do not have the jaw strength to bite or pierce a larger animal. Right?
I've handled Garter Snakes before, but it was a captive animal that my friend owned. (I did almost get bit by my doctor's Corn Snake, though.) Because of my Mom's trust in my knowledge of snakes I am allowed to handle Garters.
(A few years back in another lake I came across a Northern Water Snake. I tried to net it but it was too fast. i'm not handling those guys as they are agressive and have slight venom in their mouth saliva.)
So can a Garter Snake cause damage to a human? Can it break the skin? And if a non-venomous Snake did get ahold of me and break the skin, could I just clean it and keep going?

 

[channarox]

a garter snake can most definitely break the skin at least slightly.i think...
for me,if i get bitten by an animal or get cut or whatever,i just continue...
sometimes without washing.
ut thats just me.
i would reccomend at least washing the wound if bitten by a garter.

 

[duke33]

It only hurts a little while. Wash it and go on. Jerking away in fright causes the most damage, to you and the snake.

 

[rmorse]

Personally, I would be more pissed about the smell of a garter then the bite

 

[artemis1]

a garter is not going to hurt you. in defense, it will just snap at you and do pretty much no harm whatsoever.

 

[krzr3000]

Personally, I would be more pissed about the smell of a garter then the bite

THE TRUTH! Once you get ahold of the head they will musk you and you will not want anything to do with them.

 

[aspear]

ive been bitten before. it doesnt even hurt.

 

[Dan F]

As a kid I was bitten a few times, without ever breaking the skin. I agree that their musk is their most potent defense - that stuff is hard as heck to wash off!

An interesting side note on Garter Snakes: Pacific Northwest populations have evolved immunity to tetrodotoxin in response to their prey's (Taricha granulosa, the Rough Skinned Newt) increasing toxicity. This is often cited as an example of an "Evolutionary Arms Race".

See this link for more information:
http://www.jstor.org/pss/1565808

I attached a couple pix I took last spring in a burned over clear-cut.

 

[latshki]

like other people said, the bite is no big deal it's like taking a needle and putting it in the callas of you thumb and yes the musk is way worse

 

[Bottomfeeder]

As a kid I was bitten a few times, without ever breaking the skin. I agree that their musk is their most potent defense - that stuff is hard as heck to wash off!

An interesting side note on Garter Snakes: Pacific Northwest populations have evolved immunity to tetrodotoxin in response to their prey's (Taricha granulosa, the Rough Skinned Newt) increasing toxicity. This is often cited as an example of an "Evolutionary Arms Race".

See this link for more information:
http://www.jstor.org/pss/1565808

I attached a couple pix I took last spring in a burned over clear-cut.

Tetradoxin? as in Puffers? Wow! How many MU? (Mouse Units, a recent discovery of mine...according to Endless 0cean, a Tiger Puffer contains over 1000 Mouse Units, 1 MU being able to kill a 1-0z Mouse in 30 mins.)