106 THE AMERICAN MIDLAND NATURALIST 



Habitat and Habits. — The common garter snake is one of the best known 

 serpents of Ohio. In many localities it is decidedly abundant and, of all the 

 snakes occurring in the state, it was collected in the greatest numbers. 



It was found in a wider variety of habitats, perhaps, than any other Ohio 

 serpent. Moist environments appeared most favorable and a majority of the 

 specimens were taken in bogs, marshes, meadows, wet woods, pastures, along 

 roadside and drainage ditches, etc. On the contrary, several were encountered 

 in fields, so sear and dusty during the drought summers, as to look most 

 uninviting. 



Open land seemed preferable to woods and relatively few specimens were 

 found in the latter. The destruction of the forests of the state no doubt has 

 favored the garter snake and it is probably much more abundant now than it 

 was in pre-pioneer days. Garter snakes thrive in close proximity to Man. 

 As an example one can cite the many populous colonies found in parks and 

 wastelands of the larger cities. 



Specimens normally are terrestrial but a few were discovered in bushes and 

 small trees, and one was fully eight feet from the ground. 



During early spring when mating activities were at their height and before 

 the vegetation had grown sufficiently to conceal them, garter snakes often were 

 taken in numbers. The males collected at this season far outnumbered the 

 females, since the former doubtless were more active in seeking mates. Three 

 males, all attempting to mate with the same female at the same time, were 

 discovered near Mt. Victory, Hardin County, April 2, 1932. Specimens were 

 much less conspicuous later in the season, and like many other snakes they 

 became more or less nocturnal during hot weather. Several were found abroad 

 at night, and on very warm days it was unusual to see any unless one over- 

 turned stones, etc., in shaded places. Almost any object was chosen as a 

 shelter and in addition to the usual boards, logs, etc., they were discovered 

 under shocks of grain, tin cans, old mattresses, water melon rinds and a great 

 variety of other junk. In fact, abandoned city dumps, overgrown with weeds, 

 were often well populated with them. When alarmed near ditches or in boggy 

 places garter snakes retreated to the water, but they were far from being as 

 much at home in this element as the more aquatic water snakes. 



The dispositions of individuals varied greatly. Most were mild mannered, 

 and after the first wild efforts to escape they usually settled down and could 

 be handled with impunity. However, many struck repeatedly when first 

 caught, and free use was made of the musk glands. The habit of flattening 

 the head and body in the assumption of a threatening attitude was often noted. 



Garter snakes were taken in every month of the year, and twice on warm 

 days in winter individuals were found sunning themselves only a few feet from 

 snowdrifts, not yet dissipated by the brief thaw. Hibernation sites included 

 rock crevices, burrows made by crayfish or other animals, masses of decaying 

 vegetable matter, or almost any place sufficiently protected to remain unfrozen 

 during the winter. Upon emerging in the spring from spots which were wet 

 or muddy, specimens were often so coated with soil as to have their patterns 

 entirely obscured. 



