Visiting the Quarry on April 30th, our class was able to find more snakes than previous expeditions. My classmate Justin found this eastern garter snake, Thamnophis sirtalis, slithering through some patches of tall grass. He was still a young reptile being less than a foot long and as their patterns can be highly variable, this one had a nice checkered coloration running down its body. For some reason, anyone aside from Justin that got near this snake made him open his mouth in defense and I was able to take this picture just in time for a nice defensive posture. The rain that hit my lense adds for a nice effect I think, as it makes his open mouth stand out more. Even if he were to land a bite on someone, this snake lacks fangs (being from the family Colubridae). But he decided to musk as well feeling his life may be threatened. Eastern garter snakes will eat a variety of foods from insects to small fish to amphibians and, when large enough, will prey on small mammals. Spring is when the eastern garter snake comes out of hibernation and ready to mate. Some of the early males, to gain an edge on their competitors at getting the female, will produce female hormone to lead other males away from the area as a deceitful communication. That male will then go back and collect his reward.

(Drew Smith, Miami University)