From pictures on Google, it looks like he might be a blue-striped garter snake. (He is much more light-blue than appears in the photos above.) Does that sound right to you experts? I looked back out the front door and he is gone now. I swear I am going to have bad dreams about him. How likely am I to step on him on my frequent daily trips around the yard (at least eight-ten times every day)?! Will he bite me if I step on him by accident?

It is a garter snake. Non-poisonous, non-dangerous. Nothing to worry about.

Thanks, Frank. Do you think I might step on him accidentally while in my frequent trips around the yard? Will he bite me?

Love the Yard (cute name),
Garter snakes are MORE afraid of you than you will ever be afraid of them.

I have them and black racers in my garden and when they see me, they move away. I have accidently stepped on one and he DID NOT try to bite me, just to move quicker than any snake I've ever seen. It startled the &*$%^$ out of me, but no harm, no foul.

Just be happy to know you have them in your garden. They eat so many bad critters. Good pictures by the way. Here's one of my black snakes.

Yep, as everyone says, garter snake all right. Great guys to have in the garden. Like all snakes, they CAN bite, but usually don't. In my experience, I've picked up wild ones many times and the worst thing that ever happened is I've been "musked." Smells bad, but not painful. We have at least 2 varieties in Florida that I know of, eastern & blue-striped. We also have eastern ribbon snakes, which I believe are closely related and similar looking, except much skinnier. Color variation seems to be fairly wide in each species, some looking greener and some looking bluer than others. The blue stripes in south Florida can sometimes be practically turquoise and very pretty.

I wouldn't worry a moment about this guy. He will do everything in his power to stay out of your way, and he's a good friend in the garden.

Marcia

You all are wonderful! Thank you for the GOOD news!

I still hope I never step on him, because he WILL scare the "&*$%^$" out of me!!

I wonder if he was after a vole? (They tunnel through the yard like a mole.) He sure was down in that hole for a long time. Would a snake go after a vole in a hole? (Sounding a little Dr. Seussish!)

After a vole,
In a hole,
After a mouse,
In the house,
After a frog,
In the bog,
After a toad,
In the Road!

It will eat them here or there.
It will eat them ANYWHERE!

*grin* While garter snakes more frequently dine on toads and salamanders, they will also take small mice (and presumably voles) from time to time.

Glad we could ease your mind!

Marcia

Since there has been some recent posts on snakes, thought I would give you an update on this little fella. I had decided we were going to live in harmony and I would happily spot him now and then. About two weeks ago, I found out - well after the fact - that I got him with the lawn mower. Snake spaghetti all over the lawn. Awwwww. So much for thinking he would "feel" the vibrations of the lawnmower or "do everything in his power to stay out of [my] way". I was so sad. I didn't mean to do it and didn't know it when it happened. I discovered him on the final walk around after completing the yard work.

It is hard to live with nature. I have tons of box turtles . Many turtles actually most live in the pond but not the box turtles. We have never run over them but we are always on the look out.I told DH we need some liitle orange flags on tooth picks to glue on their backs so we could spot em.

There are only three native dangerous snakes here: cottonmouth, rattler, and coral. Yours is a garter snake, and, judging from the swollen area by the cloaca (anus), yours has just laid her eggs somewhere. Lucky you!! Yes, they eat voles, moles, mice, palmetto and other larger bugs, toads, frogs, salamanders, and lizards. Careful mowing, and watch for bird activity when the babies hatch...you will hear the goings on. They like cooler shady places under stuff (like many other reptiles) when it is hot.
What a great find!!

The photos at top were taken April 13 so maybe I got one of the babies (?).

"What a great find"

...and great loss, I guess!

Snake Story from My Youth:

I grew up here in Pinellas and fished all the lakes for bass and bluegill. One day, while wading about knee-deep in a local lake, I heard a "splash-splash" sound and looked to see a water mocassin coming right at me, literally skipping across the top of the water. It went right past me about a few inches from my leg. It took me a second to realize that there was only one animal that could scare a water mocassin like that. I turned and ran for shore. When I looked back from shore there was a large alligator in the water. Snakes may be scary but there is always something bigger and badder than they are.

Don't leave us hanging! What happened next?!?

As the Impalas sang in the 50's, "I ran all the way home".

...just to say you're sorry????????

Hehehe!

Marcia

I'm sooo glad someone IDed that bugger I have one just like him (maybe bigger) in my yard, watch like a hawk to make sure he is not in my way. when they (I have more one)are around I swear I feel them so I can usualy scare them away. Last week I was out potting Plants and I needed more Pots which were a little distance away from where I was working. I headed to the pots. Well I felt that there was one close by soooo I very carefully eye out as far as my eye could see, didn't see anything so I thought to self "she is in a bush somewhere so I'm not going to worry. Sooo I by now I'm at the pots. I take one step forward and all of a suddon this huge snake wraps around my leg and I just about died, nothing but blood curling scream comes out of my mouth as I doing the chicken dance and there are pots flying all over the. I know in my knower that some are not poisonous but I could still die of a heart attack. Try as I have I can't seem to not be terrified Of them. That lawn mower deal sounds realy great HEHEHE

Hi Kara I went to your plant swap My plants are doing awesome! thanks sooo much for letting me come.

Carmen