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Butler's Garter


Butler's Garter
Photo Information
Copyright: Martin Trimmer (Martrim) Silver Note Writer [C: 3 W: 0 N: 12] (69)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2003-09-03
Categories: Reptiles
Camera: Canon PowerShot A70
Exposure: f/4.8, 1/100 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2004-09-08 16:19
Viewed: 1648
Points: 3
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Ok, I’ll say it up front… I’m not a person who is thrilled with snakes. I have no explanation why except that I know my father has the same dread, and we so often inherit or are subliminally taught our fears and prejudices.
Anyway, this is another picture taken while on a bike ride. I was riding with my cousin and he’s actually the one who caught a glimpse of this garter snake, and we stopped for a closer look since it was right on the edge of a gravel-paved bike path. I took my camera out of my pack and moved in for a closer look. I thought he was joking when he said “Hurry up and take the picture... here come two more snakes”. It wasn’t until after I looked at the photo that I saw the baby snake coming down toward me from above!
About the snake: this is a garter snake, or as some call them, a Garden Snake. Specifically, I believe it is a Butler’s Garter Snake, or Thamnosis Butleri. Length 15-20 in. (38-51 cm.) This is chiefly an inhabitant of flat, open fields. Although its range covers most of glaciated Ohio, the Butler's garter snake occurs only in isolated colonies. A lateral stripe covers the third row of scales, as well as the adjacent halves of rows 2 and 4. This snake was named for Amos Butler, an early Indiana naturalist.
By the way, don't expect a lot of snake photos from me.

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Critiques [Translate]

  • Good 
  • PDP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 2821 W: 344 N: 3779] (11769)
  • [2004-09-08 18:58]

It's a shame you are not thrilled with snakes as I think you could have gone closer? I like that there are two in there. The tree wood is a fantastic colour, do you know what tree it is?

Good effort considering you don't like snakes!

Nice one , thank you for overcoming your fear, it was worth it. I suspect the smaller snakes were males and the large a female I know there is a size difference in the sexes in some species. though you could well be right and it is this years brood .
Good notes too.I given 2 points because although we do not get to see much detail of the snake , it is clearly seen in its environent and the freshly splintered timber is beautifully coloured and textured.

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